--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only he who knows how to speak can be…" description: "\"“Only he who knows how to speak can be silent.”\" — Jean-Paul Sartre" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/jean-paul-sartre-220_knows_only-he-who-knows-how-to-speak-can-be-si_1826836.png" --- # Only he who knows how to speak can be silent. ![“Only he who knows how to speak can be silent.” quote by Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/jean-paul-sartre-220_knows_only-he-who-knows-how-to-speak-can-be-si_1826836.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/jean-paul-sartre-220_knows_only-he-who-knows-how-to-speak-can-be-si_1826836.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b5/jean-paul-sartre-220_knows_only-he-who-knows-how-to-speak-can-be-si_1826836.png) > ““Only he who knows how to speak can be silent.”” [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The ability to speak grants power, yet true wisdom may lie in choosing silence when appropriate. **In simple terms:** Speaking gives power, silence can be wise. Key Takeaway Choose silence wisely. Themes communication wisdom self-control Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - debates - personal reflection - conflict resolution Key Concepts existentialism speech silence Questions to Reflect On - When is silence more powerful than words? - How does speaking affect responsibility? A Different Perspective Silence may be misunderstood as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ## Related quotes > [We have drugs to make women speak, but none to keep them silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/we-have-drugs-to-make-women-speak-but-none-to-keep-them-silent/) [Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/) > [“He who knows how to speak, knows also when.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archidamidas/he-who-knows-how-to-speak-knows-also-when/) Archidamidas > [He knows not when to be silent who knows not when to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows-not-when-to-speak/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [We need a reason to speak but none to keep silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-nicole/we-need-a-reason-to-speak-but-none-to-keep-silent/) Pierre Nicole > [I try to be as honest about what I see and to speak rather than be silent, especially if it means I can save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-try-to-be-as-honest-about-what-i-see-and-to-speak-rather-than-be/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [When we want to talk, we can instead listen, and let our attentiveness to another's need to speak be our silent statement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-we-want-to-talk-we-can-instead-listen-and-let-our-attentiveness/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“There are times when you should remain silent and there will be those times when you should speak. Do not speak out when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/there-are-times-when-you-should-remain-silent-and-there-will-be-those/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“To write,” Marguerite Duras remarked, “is also not to speak. It is to keep silent. It is to howl noiselessly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-tempest-williams/to-write-marguerite-duras-remarked-is-also-not-to-speak-it-is-to-keep/) [Terry Tempest Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-tempest-williams/) > [If we are silent when we should speak, we are not living the Discipline of silence. If we speak when we should be silent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/if-we-are-silent-when-we-should-speak-we-are-not-living-the/) [Richard J. 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