--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If thou desire to be held wise, be so…" description: "\"If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.\" — Francis Quarles" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd3/francis-quarles-1740_desire_if-thou-desire-to-be-held-wise-be-so-wis_442349.png" --- # If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy… ![“If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.” quote by Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd3/francis-quarles-1740_desire_if-thou-desire-to-be-held-wise-be-so-wis_442349.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd3/francis-quarles-1740_desire_if-thou-desire-to-be-held-wise-be-so-wis_442349.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd3/francis-quarles-1740_desire_if-thou-desire-to-be-held-wise-be-so-wis_442349.png) > “If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.” [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advises that wisdom is shown by restraint and thoughtful speech. **In simple terms:** Wise people speak less. Key Takeaway Practice mindful silence. Themes wisdom speech self‑control Mood reflective calm Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - negotiations - public speaking - conflict resolution Key Concepts Stoicism rhetoric Questions to Reflect On - What benefits arise from holding your tongue? - How can you convey wisdom without speaking? A Different Perspective Silence can be misread as indifference. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Held Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/held-wise-2411939/) [Hold Thy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hold-thy-1826250/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Thy Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thy-tongue-1646488/) [Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise Hold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-hold-3876960/) [Wise Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-wise/) ## Related quotes > [Such is the world. Understand it, despise it, love it; cheerfully hold on thy way through it, with thy eye on highest loadstars!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/such-is-the-world-understand-it-despise-it-love-it-cheerfully-hold-on/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Well, then, Lord Jesus! I will creep if I cannot walk; I will take hold of Thy word. When I stumble, Thou wilt support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-scriver/well-then-lord-jesus-i-will-creep-if-i-cannot-walk-i-will-take-hold/) [Christian Scriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-scriver/) > [Be kind to thy father, for when thou were young, who loved thee so fondly as he? He caught the first accents that fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-kind-to-thy-father-for-when-thou-were-young-who-loved-thee-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Those who are held wise among men, and who search for the reason of things, are those who bring the most sorrow upon themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/those-who-are-held-wise-among-men-and-who-search-for-the-reason-of/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [Those who are held Wise among men and who search the reasons of things, are those who bring the most sorrow on themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/those-who-are-held-wise-among-men-and-who-search-the-reasons-of/) [Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/) > [The assembled souls of all that men held wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-davenant/the-assembled-souls-of-all-that-men-held-wise/) [William Davenant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-davenant/) > [Keep well thy tongue & keep thy friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russyb/keep-well-thy-tongue-keep-thy-friend/) [Russyb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russyb/) > [Let not the tongue give utterance to the evil that is in thine heart, but command thy tongue to be silent until good shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/let-not-the-tongue-give-utterance-to-the-evil-that-is-in-thine-heart/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [Be not thy tongue thy own shame's orator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-not-thy-tongue-thy-own-shame-s-orator/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Move thy tongue, For silence is a sign of discontent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cary/move-thy-tongue-for-silence-is-a-sign-of-discontent/) [Elizabeth Cary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cary/) > [Forge thy tongue on an anvil of truth and what flies up, though it be but a spark, will have light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pindar/forge-thy-tongue-on-an-anvil-of-truth-and-what-flies-up-though-it-be/) [Pindar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pindar/) > [Teach thy tongue to say 'I do not know,' and thou shalt progress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maimonides/teach-thy-tongue-to-say-i-do-not-know-and-thou-shalt-progress/) [Maimonides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maimonides/) > [“In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes, For they in thee a thousand errors note; But 'tis my heart that loves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/in-faith-i-do-not-love-thee-with-mine-eyes-for-they-in-thee-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O call not me to justify the wrong, That thy unkindness lays upon my heart, Wound me not with thine eye but with thy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-call-not-me-to-justify-the-wrong-that-thy-unkindness-lays-upon-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Point thy tongue on the anvil of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pindar/point-thy-tongue-on-the-anvil-of-truth/) [Pindar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pindar/) ## More by Francis Quarles > [Be neither too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it, nor too precisely in it; what custom hath civilized is become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/be-neither-too-early-in-the-fashion-nor-too-long-out-of-it-nor-too/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Luxury is an enticing pleasure, a bastard mirth, which hath honey in her mouth, gall in her heart, and a sting in her tail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/luxury-is-an-enticing-pleasure-a-bastard-mirth-which-hath-honey-in/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Deliberate long before thou consecrate a friend, and when thy impartial justice concludes him worthy of thy bosom, receive him joyfully, and entertain him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/deliberate-long-before-thou-consecrate-a-friend-and-when-thy/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [What treasures here do Mammon's sons behold! Yet know that all that which glitters is not gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/what-treasures-here-do-mammon-s-sons-behold-yet-know-that-all-that/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Meditation is the life of the soul: Action, the soul of meditation; and honor the reward of action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/meditation-is-the-life-of-the-soul-action-the-soul-of-meditation-and/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The world is deceitful; her end is doubtful, her conclusion is horrible, her judge terrible, and her judgment is intolerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-is-deceitful-her-end-is-doubtful-her-conclusion-is-horrible/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [I wish thee as much pleasure in the reading, as I had in the writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/i-wish-thee-as-much-pleasure-in-the-reading-as-i-had-in-the-writing/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The suburbs of folly is vain mirth, and profuseness of laughter is the city of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-suburbs-of-folly-is-vain-mirth-and-profuseness-of-laughter-is-the/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The fountain of beauty is the heart and every generous thought illustrates the walls of your chamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-fountain-of-beauty-is-the-heart-and-every-generous-thought/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [The strong desires of man's insatiate breast may stand possess'd Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-strong-desires-of-man-s-insatiate-breast-may-stand-possess-d-of/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Knowledge descries; wisdom applies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/knowledge-descries-wisdom-applies/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [In all thy actions think God sees thee; and in all His actions labor to see Him; that will make thee fear Him; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/in-all-thy-actions-think-god-sees-thee-and-in-all-his-actions-labor/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Read not books alone, but men, and amongst them chiefly thyself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/read-not-books-alone-but-men-and-amongst-them-chiefly-thyself/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) [Explore all 212 Francis Quarles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Francis Quarles" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/if-thou-desire-to-be-held-wise-be-so-wise-as-to-hold-thy-tongue/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Desire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/if-thou-desire-to-be-held-wise-be-so-wise-as-to-hold-thy-tongue/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd3/francis-quarles-1740_desire_if-thou-desire-to-be-held-wise-be-so-wis_442349.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd3/francis-quarles-1740_desire_if-thou-desire-to-be-held-wise-be-so-wis_442349.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd3/francis-quarles-1740_desire_if-thou-desire-to-be-held-wise-be-so-wis_442349.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If thou desire to be held wise, be so wise as to hold thy tongue.” — Francis Quarles", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Francis Quarles", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If thou desire to be held...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/if-thou-desire-to-be-held-wise-be-so-wise-as-to-hold-thy-tongue/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/if-thou-desire-to-be-held-wise-be-so-wise-as-to-hold-thy-tongue/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```