--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In elementary school, we all say, 'If you…" description: "\"In elementary school, we all say, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.' In high school, we should say, 'If you don'..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/nick-vujicic-1681_anything_in-elementary-school-we-all-say-if-you-d_2195583.png" --- # In elementary school, we all say, 'If you don't have… ![“In elementary school, we all say, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.' In high school, we should say, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, shut your mouth.' So that's what I'm telling high schools all around the world.” quote by Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/nick-vujicic-1681_anything_in-elementary-school-we-all-say-if-you-d_2195583.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/nick-vujicic-1681_anything_in-elementary-school-we-all-say-if-you-d_2195583.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/77f/nick-vujicic-1681_anything_in-elementary-school-we-all-say-if-you-d_2195583.png) > “In elementary school, we all say, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.' In high school, we should say, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, shut your mouth.' So that's what I'm telling high schools all around the world.” [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages honesty and restraint in communication, especially among youth, promoting speaking only when kind. **In simple terms:** Speak kindly or stay silent. Key Takeaway Choose words that add value. Themes communication honesty respect social norms Mood thoughtful assertive Type advice motivational When to use this quote - school assemblies - online comments - family discussions - public speaking Key Concepts ethical speech self‑control Questions to Reflect On - When does silence cause harm? - How can we express disagreement constructively? A Different Perspective May suppress necessary criticism or truth‑telling. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything/) [Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Elementary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elementary/) [Elementary school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elementary-school/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [High schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-schools/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth/) [Mouth Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth-telling-4800459/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Nice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nice/) [Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say/) [Say anything](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-anything/) [Say Shut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/say-shut-360195/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [School Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school-say-1472202/) [Schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schools/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Shut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shut/) [Shut Mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shut-mouth/) [Telling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telling/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [“Shut up!" He bellowed again, clearly very confused. “Why do people say ‘shut up’? Shut what… My hand? My mouth? If you mean mouth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaycee-browning/shut-up-he-bellowed-again-clearly-very-confused-why-do-people-say/) [Kaycee Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaycee-browning/) > [“Horchow's daughter, Sally, told me a story of how she once took her father to a new Japanese restaurant where a friend of hers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcom-gladwell/horchow-s-daughter-sally-told-me-a-story-of-how-she-once-took-her/) [Malcom Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcom-gladwell/) > [Stay the fuck in school, and say fucking no to drugs!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-callaghan-2/stay-the-fuck-in-school-and-say-fucking-no-to-drugs/) [John O Callaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-callaghan-2/) > [No, mes amis, impressionism is not charlatanry, nor a formula, nor a school. 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Then you lose your true power which is to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/that-is-one-of-the-main-causes-of-this-arrogance-the-idea-of-power/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) > [People at my school say they absolutely hate drama, but they go off and create it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myself/people-at-my-school-say-they-absolutely-hate-drama-but-they-go-off/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myself/) > [Why don't we teach our children in school what they are? We should say to them, 'You are unique... you have the capacity for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-handy/why-don-t-we-teach-our-children-in-school-what-they-are-we-should-say/) [Charles Handy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-handy/) > [“...she was uncomfortable with what the professors called "participation," and did not see why it should be part of the final grade; it merely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/she-was-uncomfortable-with-what-the-professors-called-participation/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [In many countries, they do not even keep track of how girls are doing in school, or if they are there at all. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/in-many-countries-they-do-not-even-keep-track-of-how-girls-are-doing/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [“Yes, we are very proud of Sara, she is new to our school and as you say, we are very lucky to have her”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kahler/yes-we-are-very-proud-of-sara-she-is-new-to-our-school-and-as-you-say/) [Katrina Kahler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kahler/) > [“Do you like this school? I have to say I like it very very much. But soon everything changes. Well at least it does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/key/do-you-like-this-school-i-have-to-say-i-like-it-very-very-much-but/) [Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/key/) > [I find it hard to say, because when I was there it seemed to be shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-freud/i-find-it-hard-to-say-because-when-i-was-there-it-seemed-to-be-shut/) [Clement Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-freud/) ## More by Nick Vujicic > [“Sometimes when we go through transitions, we aren’t aware of the impact they have on us. Stress, doubt, and even depression commonly result from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/sometimes-when-we-go-through-transitions-we-aren-t-aware-of-the/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [I have the choice to be angry at God for what i don't have, or be thankful for what i do have](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/i-have-the-choice-to-be-angry-at-god-for-what-i-don-t-have-or-be/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [At my funeral, if one said, 'Nick was a generous person,' trust me I won't be doing cartwheels in my coffin. Recognition from people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/at-my-funeral-if-one-said-nick-was-a-generous-person-trust-me-i-won-t/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [“To move to the next rung, you must give up your grip and reach for the next one. Release, reach, and raise yourself up,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/to-move-to-the-next-rung-you-must-give-up-your-grip-and-reach-for-the/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [We are put in situations to build our character... not destroy us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/we-are-put-in-situations-to-build-our-character-not-destroy-us/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [As long as I try, there’s always a chance of getting up. It’s not the end until you give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/as-long-as-i-try-there-s-always-a-chance-of-getting-up-it-s-not-the/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [“the timing was right. Sometimes patience can pay off. Don’t be afraid to sleep on it. Write it down before you go to bed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/the-timing-was-right-sometimes-patience-can-pay-off-don-t-be-afraid/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [You have arms and legs, but don't know what to do with your lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/you-have-arms-and-legs-but-don-t-know-what-to-do-with-your-lives/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [The greatest rewards come when you give of yourself. It's about bettering the lives of others, being part of something bigger than yourself, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/the-greatest-rewards-come-when-you-give-of-yourself-it-s-about/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [I know for certain that God does not make mistakes, but he does make miracles. I am one. You are, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/i-know-for-certain-that-god-does-not-make-mistakes-but-he-does-make/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [“Waikiki Beach. 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Instead, live as though you can do anything you dream of doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/you-should-never-live-according-to-what-you-lack-instead-live-as/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) > [I love my life, because I’ve seen my purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-vujicic/i-love-my-life-because-i-ve-seen-my-purpose/) [Nick Vujicic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) [Explore all 207 Nick Vujicic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-vujicic/) ## More Anything quotes > [I guess I've never really wanted to be anything else. I've never even thought about having another job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-farrell/i-guess-i-ve-never-really-wanted-to-be-anything-else-i-ve-never-even/) [Owen Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-farrell/) > [I would give anything to be able to kick a ball with my son or read the kids a bedtime story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-burrow/i-would-give-anything-to-be-able-to-kick-a-ball-with-my-son-or-read/) [Rob Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-burrow/) > [Comfort food is really anything you want at that time. That said, I really love Naple-style pizza.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/comfort-food-is-really-anything-you-want-at-that-time-that-said-i/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [I haven't shut any doors, and I'm really open to anything, so I think it's just about the material and what is going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-panabaker/i-haven-t-shut-any-doors-and-i-m-really-open-to-anything-so-i-think/) [Danielle Panabaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-panabaker/) > [When it really comes down to it, the job you do is more important and is more representative of who you are than your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cudlitz/when-it-really-comes-down-to-it-the-job-you-do-is-more-important-and/) [Michael Cudlitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cudlitz/) > [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [I never did drama at school. 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Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/) [Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/) [Browse all 9,437 Anything quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anything/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In elementary school, we all say, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.' In high school, we should say, 'If you don't have anything nice to say, shut your mouth.' 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