--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He knows not when to be silent who knows…" description: "\"He knows not when to be silent who knows not when to speak.\" — Publilius Syrus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/publilius-syrus-594_knows_he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows_2108201.png" --- # He knows not when to be silent who knows not when to speak. ![“He knows not when to be silent who knows not when to speak.” quote by Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/publilius-syrus-594_knows_he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows_2108201.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/publilius-syrus-594_knows_he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows_2108201.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/publilius-syrus-594_knows_he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows_2108201.png) > “He knows not when to be silent who knows not when to speak.” [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote advises that those who cannot keep silent should also not speak, emphasizing the importance of timing and restraint in communication. **In simple terms:** Know when to be silent and when to speak. Key Takeaway Practice thoughtful communication. Themes communication wisdom self-control timing speech Mood thoughtful cautious wise Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - conflict resolution Key Concepts Stoic philosophy oral restraint Questions to Reflect On - When is it better to stay silent? - How can you gauge the right moment to speak? A Different Perspective Silence can be misinterpreted as indifference. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Knows Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-silent-802013/) [Knows Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows-speak-2240246/) [Silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent/) [Silent Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent-knows-3334432/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) ## Related quotes > [Sound of hertbreak is simply a silent. But these who have being through it knows how loudly it sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-onah/sound-of-hertbreak-is-simply-a-silent-but-these-who-have-being/) [J J ONAH](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-onah/) > [“Not one person in a hundred knows how to be silent and listen, no, nor even to conceive what such a thing means. Yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/not-one-person-in-a-hundred-knows-how-to-be-silent-and-listen-no-nor/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [“He who knows how to speak, knows also when.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archidamidas/he-who-knows-how-to-speak-knows-also-when/) [Archidamidas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archidamidas/) > [“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/) > [The wise man knows when to keep silent. Only the fool tells all he knows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/the-wise-man-knows-when-to-keep-silent-only-the-fool-tells-all-he/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [He who knows nothing knows enough if he knows how to be silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/he-who-knows-nothing-knows-enough-if-he-knows-how-to-be-silent/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [He is nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cato-the-elder/he-is-nearest-to-the-gods-who-knows-how-to-be-silent/) [Cato the Elder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cato-the-elder/) > [“For to-day I take or give; For to-day I drink and live; For to-day I beg or borrow; Who knows about the silent morrow?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lew-wallace/for-to-day-i-take-or-give-for-to-day-i-drink-and-live-for-to-day-i/) [Lew Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lew-wallace/) > [When the fool knows when to be silent, he would be sitting among the wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/when-the-fool-knows-when-to-be-silent-he-would-be-sitting-among-the/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [“A smart person knows how to talk. A wise person knows when to be silent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-t-bennett/a-smart-person-knows-how-to-talk-a-wise-person-knows-when-to-be-silent/) [Roy T. Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-t-bennett/) > [A fair exterior is a silent recommendation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/a-fair-exterior-is-a-silent-recommendation/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Speech is the mirror of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/speech-is-the-mirror-of-the-soul/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [But can one not conceive of a presence, and of a presence to itself of the subject before speech or signs, a presence to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-derrida/but-can-one-not-conceive-of-a-presence-and-of-a-presence-to-itself-of/) [Jacques Derrida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-derrida/) > [The world would be happier if men had the same capacity to be silent that they have to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/the-world-would-be-happier-if-men-had-the-same-capacity-to-be-silent/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [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/) ## More by Publilius Syrus > [Even speed, when we are anxious, seems like delay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/even-speed-when-we-are-anxious-seems-like-delay/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The coward regards himself as cautious, the miser as thrifty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-coward-regards-himself-as-cautious-the-miser-as-thrifty/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is his nature, not his standing, that makes the good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-his-nature-not-his-standing-that-makes-the-good-man/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [It is more tolerable to be refused than deceived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/it-is-more-tolerable-to-be-refused-than-deceived/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Modesty once lost, never returns into favour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/modesty-once-lost-never-returns-into-favour/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [One ungrateful person does an injury to all needy people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/one-ungrateful-person-does-an-injury-to-all-needy-people/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He has existed only, not lived, who lacks wisdom in old age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-has-existed-only-not-lived-who-lacks-wisdom-in-old-age/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Any plan is bad which is incapable of modification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/any-plan-is-bad-which-is-incapable-of-modification/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The evil you do to others you may expect in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-evil-you-do-to-others-you-may-expect-in-return/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [The power of habit is very strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/the-power-of-habit-is-very-strong/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Take care that no one hates you justly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/take-care-that-no-one-hates-you-justly/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Poverty wants much; but avarice, everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/poverty-wants-much-but-avarice-everything/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [He who has plenty of pepper will pepper his cabbage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-who-has-plenty-of-pepper-will-pepper-his-cabbage/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [Hasty conclusions lead to speedy repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/hasty-conclusions-lead-to-speedy-repentance/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) > [When reason rules, money is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/when-reason-rules-money-is-a-blessing/) [Publilius Syrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) [Explore all 455 Publilius Syrus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/) ## More Knows quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/) [Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/) > [It is said that history turns on small hinges. 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He who speaks does not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-who-knows-does-not-speak-he-who-speaks-does-not-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I did not know that the planning for biological and chemical warfare was so widespread in England, and even in France before France fell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholson-baker/i-did-not-know-that-the-planning-for-biological-and-chemical-warfare/) [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) [Browse all 53,133 Knows quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He knows not when to be silent who knows not when to speak.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Publilius Syrus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows-not-when-to-speak/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Knows" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows-not-when-to-speak/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/publilius-syrus-594_knows_he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows_2108201.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/publilius-syrus-594_knows_he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows_2108201.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/65e/publilius-syrus-594_knows_he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows_2108201.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He knows not when to be silent who knows not when to speak.” — Publilius Syrus", "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": "Publilius Syrus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/publilius-syrus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "He knows not when to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows-not-when-to-speak/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/publilius-syrus/he-knows-not-when-to-be-silent-who-knows-not-when-to-speak/#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 } } ] } ```