--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He knows not how to speak who cannot be…" description: "\"He knows not how to speak who cannot be silent; still less how to act with vigour and decision. - Who hastens to the end is silent: loudness is impoten..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/johann-kaspar-lavater-1399_decision_he-knows-not-how-to-speak-who-cannot-be_1881702.jpg" --- # He knows not how to speak who cannot be silent; still less… ![“He knows not how to speak who cannot be silent; still less how to act with vigour and decision. - Who hastens to the end is silent: loudness is impotence.” quote by Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/johann-kaspar-lavater-1399_decision_he-knows-not-how-to-speak-who-cannot-be_1881702.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/johann-kaspar-lavater-1399_decision_he-knows-not-how-to-speak-who-cannot-be_1881702.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/468/johann-kaspar-lavater-1399_decision_he-knows-not-how-to-speak-who-cannot-be_1881702.jpg) > “He knows not how to speak who cannot be silent; still less how to act with vigour and decision. - Who hastens to the end is silent: loudness is impotence.” [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True wisdom lies in silence and decisive action; loudness without purpose is weakness. **In simple terms:** Silence and decisive action matter. Key Takeaway Choose thoughtful action over empty words. Themes wisdom action silence Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - leadership - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts philosophy self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - When have you spoken too much? - How can you act decisively? A Different Perspective Silence can be misinterpreted as passivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Vigor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vigor/) ## Related quotes > [Loudness is impotence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/loudness-is-impotence/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [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/) > [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 > [Airs of importance are the credentials of impotence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/airs-of-importance-are-the-credentials-of-impotence/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Wishes run over in loquacious impotence, will presses on with laconic energy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/wishes-run-over-in-loquacious-impotence-will-presses-on-with-laconic/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [“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. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Sometimez I feel, I have a million thingz to speak out, but not the right person to speak out to.. so I keep silent..!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raj/sometimez-i-feel-i-have-a-million-thingz-to-speak-out-but-not-the/) [Raj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raj/) > [I speak as I must and cannot be silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/i-speak-as-i-must-and-cannot-be-silent/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [Be slow to speak, and only after having first listened quietly, so that you may understand the meaning, leanings, and wishes of those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-ignatius/be-slow-to-speak-and-only-after-having-first-listened-quietly-so-that/) [Saint Ignatius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-ignatius/) > [“Wittgenstein likes to assert: "Whereof we cannot speak we must be silent". But skilfully using our hands and manipulating our thoughts can be plausible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/wittgenstein-likes-to-assert-whereof-we-cannot-speak-we-must-be/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) > [“Only he who knows how to speak can be silent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/only-he-who-knows-how-to-speak-can-be-silent/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [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/) > [Where of one cannot speak, there of one must be silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/where-of-one-cannot-speak-there-of-one-must-be-silent/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“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/) ## More by Johann Kaspar Lavater > [Neatness begets order; but from order to taste there is the same difference as from taste to genius, or from love to friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/neatness-begets-order-but-from-order-to-taste-there-is-the-same/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The horse-laugh indicates brutality of character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-horse-laugh-indicates-brutality-of-character/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Don't speak evil of someone if you don't know for certain, and if you do know ask yourself, why am I telling it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/don-t-speak-evil-of-someone-if-you-don-t-know-for-certain-and-if-you/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Before thou callest a man hero or genius, investigate whether his exertion has features of indelibility; for all that is celestial, all genius, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/before-thou-callest-a-man-hero-or-genius-investigate-whether-his/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [“Si quieres ser sabio, aprende a interrogar razonablemente, a escuchar con atención, a responder serenamente y a callar cuando no tengas nada que decir.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/si-quieres-ser-sabio-aprende-a-interrogar-razonablemente-a-escuchar/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The creditor whose appearance gladdens the heart of a debtor may hold his head in sunbeams and his foot on storms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-creditor-whose-appearance-gladdens-the-heart-of-a-debtor-may-hold/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The craftiest trickery are too short and ragged a cloak to cover a bad heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-craftiest-trickery-are-too-short-and-ragged-a-cloak-to-cover-a/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Who affects useless singularities has surely a little mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/who-affects-useless-singularities-has-surely-a-little-mind/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Who has a daring eye tell downright truths and downright lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/who-has-a-daring-eye-tell-downright-truths-and-downright-lies/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [True worth is as inevitably discovered by the facial expression, as its opposite is sure to be clearly represented there. The human face is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/true-worth-is-as-inevitably-discovered-by-the-facial-expression-as/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Fools learn nothing from wise men, but wise men learn much from fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/fools-learn-nothing-from-wise-men-but-wise-men-learn-much-from-fools/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [Who will sacrifice nothing, and enjoy all, is a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/who-will-sacrifice-nothing-and-enjoy-all-is-a-fool/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [The procrastinator is not only indolent and weak, but commonly, false, too; most of the weak are false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/the-procrastinator-is-not-only-indolent-and-weak-but-commonly-false/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [You may tell a man thou art a fiend, but not your nose wants blowing; to him alone who can bear a thing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/you-may-tell-a-man-thou-art-a-fiend-but-not-your-nose-wants-blowing/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) [Explore all 245 Johann Kaspar Lavater quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) ## More Decision quotes > [Making the right decision is hard,telling someone your decision is even harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/making-the-right-decision-is-hard-telling-someone-your-decision-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. A human career, too, results from an accumulating series of decisions about large and small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/it-is-said-that-history-turns-on-small-hinges-a-human-career-too/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [“How can you make an informed decision about whether to save the world if you never leave your tiny part of it?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-david-hutchinson/how-can-you-make-an-informed-decision-about-whether-to-save-the-world/) [Shaun David Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-david-hutchinson/) > [Love is the foundation from which your decisions about your life should be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-the-foundation-from-which-your-decisions-about-your-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Indecision becomes decision with time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/indecision-becomes-decision-with-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [It was a conscious decision on my part to take up fewer films. And if you're not seen that often on screen, nobody calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-lever/it-was-a-conscious-decision-on-my-part-to-take-up-fewer-films-and-if/) [Johnny Lever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-lever/) > [Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/decision-is-a-risk-rooted-in-the-courage-of-being-free/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [I never think of things rationally or intellectually. I swear, every single decision I make is just instinct and my instincts tend to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-never-think-of-things-rationally-or-intellectually-i-swear-every/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [“it is either you happen to life or life happens to you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sesan-kareem/it-is-either-you-happen-to-life-or-life-happens-to-you/) [Sesan Kareem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sesan-kareem/) > [How strange that something so simple could have been instrumental in my decision to ruin one of my most relationships and friendships, and damage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/how-strange-that-something-so-simple-could-have-been-instrumental-in/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. 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