--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Silence frees us from the need to control…" description: "\"“Silence frees us from the need to control others. One reason we can hardly bear to remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are accustom..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/richard-j-foster-1460_compassion_silence-frees-us-from-the-need-to-contro_1751811.png" --- # Silence frees us from the need to control others. One… ![“Silence frees us from the need to control others. One reason we can hardly bear to remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are accustomed to relying upon words to manage and control others. A frantic stream of words flows from us in an attempt to straighten others out. We want so…” quote by Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/richard-j-foster-1460_compassion_silence-frees-us-from-the-need-to-contro_1751811.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/richard-j-foster-1460_compassion_silence-frees-us-from-the-need-to-contro_1751811.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/richard-j-foster-1460_compassion_silence-frees-us-from-the-need-to-contro_1751811.png) > ““Silence frees us from the need to control others. One reason we can hardly bear to remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are accustomed to relying upon words to manage and control others. A frantic stream of words flows from us in an attempt to straighten others out. We want so desperately for them to agree with us, to see things our way. We evaluate people, judge people, condemn people. We devour people with our words. Silence is one of the deepest Disciplines of the Spirit simply because it puts the stopper on that. When we become quiet enough to let go of people, we learn compassion for them.”” [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Silence curtails our impulse to dominate through speech, revealing compassion when we stop judging and controlling others. **In simple terms:** Silence stops us from trying to control people with words. Key Takeaway Practice quiet to develop compassion. Themes compassion self‑control communication spiritual discipline Mood reflective calm Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - conflict resolution - personal meditation - leadership - counseling - meditation Key Concepts mindfulness humility empathy Questions to Reflect On - How does silence change your view of others? - When have you used words to control? A Different Perspective Silence can be uncomfortable and may be misinterpreted as indifference. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Judgement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgement/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Simplicity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simplicity/) ## Related quotes > [“Silence is one of the deepest disciplines of the Spirit simply because it puts the stopper on all self-justification. One of the fruits of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/silence-is-one-of-the-deepest-disciplines-of-the-spirit-simply/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Silence is one of the deepest Disciplines of the Spirit, simply because it puts the stopper on all self-justificat ion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/silence-is-one-of-the-deepest-disciplines-of-the-spirit-simply-3/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Silence is one of the deepest Disciplines of the Spirit simply because it puts the stopper on all self-justification.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/silence-is-one-of-the-deepest-disciplines-of-the-spirit-simply-2/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“You don't need to fill the silence— sometimes, silence is the deepest conversation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-delaney/you-don-t-need-to-fill-the-silence-sometimes-silence-is-the-deepest/) Sean DeLaney > [The art form has to do with the mystery and the hidden invitation that's in the room. And that's when the magic happens, that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-whyte/the-art-form-has-to-do-with-the-mystery-and-the-hidden-invitation/) [David Whyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-whyte/) > [Silence is our deepest nature, our home, our common ground, our peace. Silence reveals. Silence heals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunilla-brodde-norris/silence-is-our-deepest-nature-our-home-our-common-ground-our-peace/) [Gunilla Brodde Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunilla-brodde-norris/) > [“One reason we can hardly bear to remain silent is that it makes us feel so helpless. We are so accustomed to relying upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/one-reason-we-can-hardly-bear-to-remain-silent-is-that-it-makes-us/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [If your actions cannot prove the truth of your words, then silence is my reply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/if-your-actions-cannot-prove-the-truth-of-your-words-then-silence-is/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“Truth for anyone is a very complex thing. For a writer, what you leave out says as much as those things you include. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/truth-for-anyone-is-a-very-complex-thing-for-a-writer-what-you-leave/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [You don't always have to defend yourself with your words. Sometimes your silence gives people a clue that you have better thoughts in mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-don-t-always-have-to-defend-yourself-with-your-words-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [All my years to this moment All my roads to this wall. All my words to this silence All my pride to this fall.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-fisher/all-my-years-to-this-moment-all-my-roads-to-this-wall-all-my-words-to/) [Catherine Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-fisher/) > [“Now more than ever, 33 Himmel Street was a place of silence, and it did not go unnoticed that the Duden Dictionary was completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/now-more-than-ever-33-himmel-street-was-a-place-of-silence-and-it-did/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Shift your attention from words to silence and you will hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/shift-your-attention-from-words-to-silence-and-you-will-hear/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [“Turn down the daily noise and at first there is the relief of silence. And then, very quietly, as quiet as light, meaning returns.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/turn-down-the-daily-noise-and-at-first-there-is-the-relief-of-silence/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [“Silence can be breathing space and spawn release and wellness in a time of appalling inflation of words. But silence may be intolerably screaming,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-pevernagie/silence-can-be-breathing-space-and-spawn-release-and-wellness-in-a/) [Erik Pevernagie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-pevernagie/) ## More by Richard J. Foster > [Prayer is - listening for the still small voice of God. Listening with the "ear of our hearts."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-listening-for-the-still-small-voice-of-god-listening-with/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Over-consumption is a cancer eating away at our spiritual vitals. It distances us from the great masses of broken bleeding humanity. It converts us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/over-consumption-is-a-cancer-eating-away-at-our-spiritual-vitals-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“To believe that God can reach us and bless us in the ordinary junctures of daily life is the stuff of prayer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/to-believe-that-god-can-reach-us-and-bless-us-in-the-ordinary/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Prayer is simply saying "thank you, bless you, praise you."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/prayer-is-simply-saying-thank-you-bless-you-praise-you/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [There is an old proverb to the effect that 'all those who open their mouths, close their eyes!' 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The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/superficiality-is-the-curse-of-our-age-the-doctrine-of-instant/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [If worship does not change us it has not been worship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/if-worship-does-not-change-us-it-has-not-been-worship/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“I want to mention one other reason why we shy away from commitment. It is, very simply, the fear that we will not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/i-want-to-mention-one-other-reason-why-we-shy-away-from-commitment-it/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“It is one thing to act like a servant; it is quite another to be a servant.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/it-is-one-thing-to-act-like-a-servant-it-is-quite-another-to-be-a/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“we hold on so tightly to the good that we do know that we cannot receive the greater good that we do not know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/we-hold-on-so-tightly-to-the-good-that-we-do-know-that-we-cannot/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“Once we have made generous latitude for individual differences and schedules, we must firmly discipline ourselves to a regular pattern of prayer. We cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/once-we-have-made-generous-latitude-for-individual-differences-and/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [Freedom in the Gospel does not mean license. It means opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/freedom-in-the-gospel-does-not-mean-license-it-means-opportunity/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) > [“The tongue is our most powerful weapon of manipulation. A frantic stream of words flows from us because we are in a constant process…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-j-foster/the-tongue-is-our-most-powerful-weapon-of-manipulation-a-frantic/) [Richard J. Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) [Explore all 239 Richard J. Foster quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-j-foster/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. 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