--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She preferred keeping her mouth shut and…" description: "\"“She preferred keeping her mouth shut and appearing a fool to opening it and removing the doubt.”\" — Joan Smith" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/joan-smith-50434_doubt_she-preferred-keeping-her-mouth-shut-and_1803278.jpg" --- # She preferred keeping her mouth shut and appearing a fool… ![“She preferred keeping her mouth shut and appearing a fool to opening it and removing the doubt.” quote by Joan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/joan-smith-50434_doubt_she-preferred-keeping-her-mouth-shut-and_1803278.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/joan-smith-50434_doubt_she-preferred-keeping-her-mouth-shut-and_1803278.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/joan-smith-50434_doubt_she-preferred-keeping-her-mouth-shut-and_1803278.jpg) > ““She preferred keeping her mouth shut and appearing a fool to opening it and removing the doubt.”” [Joan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Choosing silence and appearing foolish can be wiser than speaking and creating doubt. **In simple terms:** Silence may be safer than speaking and causing doubt. Key Takeaway Value thoughtful restraint. Themes communication wisdom trust Mood contemplative cautious Type advice reflective When to use this quote - public speaking - conflict resolution - leadership - personal relationships Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - When is silence more powerful than words? - How do you balance honesty and doubt? A Different Perspective Silence can be misinterpreted as ignorance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Fool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fool/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) ## Related quotes > [Nothing wrong with appearing to be a fool, if what you are doing is intelligent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/nothing-wrong-with-appearing-to-be-a-fool-if-what-you-are-doing-is/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [You're almost always better off keeping your mouth shut, but don't let that stop you from popping off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/you-re-almost-always-better-off-keeping-your-mouth-shut-but-don-t-let/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Is keeping my mouth shut of all the things I need to say because in reality you'll just look the other way and pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-siddiq-prince/is-keeping-my-mouth-shut-of-all-the-things-i-need-to-say-because-in/) [Young Siddiq Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-siddiq-prince/) > [I love a good argument and sometimes I have a hard time keeping my mouth shut if I think someone is wrong... I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-love-a-good-argument-and-sometimes-i-have-a-hard-time-keeping-my/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [I have a problem keeping my mouth shut. I usually speak my mind. I'm trying to learn my lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-hendricks/i-have-a-problem-keeping-my-mouth-shut-i-usually-speak-my-mind-i-m/) [Christina Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-hendricks/) > [In some cases is keeping your mouth shut the best answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-some-cases-is-keeping-your-mouth-shut-the-best-answer/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“Keeping your mouth shut is a devastating weapon. Your silence will make your opponent want to babble.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-child/keeping-your-mouth-shut-is-a-devastating-weapon-your-silence-will/) [Lee Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-child/) > [I'm the undisputed champion of keeping my mouth shut and just sitting there like a piece of furniture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hamilton/i-m-the-undisputed-champion-of-keeping-my-mouth-shut-and-just-sitting/) [Steve Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hamilton/) > [I learned that when something just has to be said to move the discussion along, or broaden it or deepen it, if I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greil-marcus/i-learned-that-when-something-just-has-to-be-said-to-move-the/) [Greil Marcus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greil-marcus/) > [Half of seeming clever is keeping your mouth shut at the right times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/half-of-seeming-clever-is-keeping-your-mouth-shut-at-the-right-times/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I learned a lot about humility and patience, keeping my mouth shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-learned-a-lot-about-humility-and-patience-keeping-my-mouth-shut/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I won this award for keeping my mouth shut, so I think I'll do it again now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-wyman/i-won-this-award-for-keeping-my-mouth-shut-so-i-think-i-ll-do-it/) [Jane Wyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-wyman/) > [One of the hardest things in the world is keeping your mouth shut when you know something needs to be said.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/one-of-the-hardest-things-in-the-world-is-keeping-your-mouth-shut/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Keeping your mouth shut whilst eating shit will get you far in life but your soul will die of starvation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/keeping-your-mouth-shut-whilst-eating-shit-will-get-you-far-in-life/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [Most men talk too much. Much of my success has been due to keeping my mouth shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-ogden-armour/most-men-talk-too-much-much-of-my-success-has-been-due-to-keeping-my/) [J. Ogden Armour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-ogden-armour/) ## More by Joan Smith > [ “One of the chief paradoxes of our culture \[is\] that the welfare of its children, its \_future\_, is placed almost exclusively in the hands… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smith/one-of-the-chief-paradoxes-of-our-culture-is-that-the-welfare-of-its/) [Joan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smith/) > [“In a short space of time, she had become indispensable, rather like a comfortable grey gown in which one always appears respectable and can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smith/in-a-short-space-of-time-she-had-become-indispensable-rather-like-a/) [Joan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smith/) > [“Roache's statement after his acquittal was dignified but his supporters were angry. They demanded to know why the case was ever brought, claiming that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smith/roache-s-statement-after-his-acquittal-was-dignified-but-his/) [Joan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smith/) > [“... to have a lover and friend in one was the best love of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smith/to-have-a-lover-and-friend-in-one-was-the-best-love-of-all/) [Joan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smith/) > [“Talk of "witch-hunts" conceals an inconvenient fact: men charged with rape stand a better chance of walking free than other defendants. The conviction rate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smith/talk-of-witch-hunts-conceals-an-inconvenient-fact-men-charged-with/) [Joan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smith/) > [“Some folks called Dewar a dilettante; he did not consider it an appropriate term, indicating as it did a lack of seriousness, a trifling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smith/some-folks-called-dewar-a-dilettante-he-did-not-consider-it-an/) [Joan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smith/) [Explore all 7 Joan Smith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smith/) ## More Doubt 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 > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/) [Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/) > [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/) [Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/) > [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/) [Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/) Harry Chapman > [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) [Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“She preferred keeping her mouth shut and appearing a fool to opening it and removing the doubt.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joan Smith" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smith/she-preferred-keeping-her-mouth-shut-and-appearing-a-fool-to-opening/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Doubt" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smith/she-preferred-keeping-her-mouth-shut-and-appearing-a-fool-to-opening/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/joan-smith-50434_doubt_she-preferred-keeping-her-mouth-shut-and_1803278.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/joan-smith-50434_doubt_she-preferred-keeping-her-mouth-shut-and_1803278.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b0d/joan-smith-50434_doubt_she-preferred-keeping-her-mouth-shut-and_1803278.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“She preferred keeping her mouth shut and appearing a fool to opening it and removing the doubt.” — Joan Smith", "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": "Joan Smith", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-smith/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“She preferred keeping her mouth shut...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smith/she-preferred-keeping-her-mouth-shut-and-appearing-a-fool-to-opening/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-smith/she-preferred-keeping-her-mouth-shut-and-appearing-a-fool-to-opening/#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 } } ] } ```