--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A judicious silence is always better than…" description: "\"A judicious silence is always better than truth spoken without charity.\" — Saint Francis de Sales" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_charity_a-judicious-silence-is-always-better-tha_628136.png" --- # A judicious silence is always better than truth spoken… ![“A judicious silence is always better than truth spoken without charity.” quote by Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_charity_a-judicious-silence-is-always-better-tha_628136.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_charity_a-judicious-silence-is-always-better-tha_628136.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_charity_a-judicious-silence-is-always-better-tha_628136.png) > “A judicious silence is always better than truth spoken without charity.” [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speaking truth without kindness can cause harm; silence can be kinder and more constructive. **In simple terms:** Kind words matter more than harsh truth. Key Takeaway Choose compassion over bluntness. Themes compassion communication ethics Mood thoughtful calm Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - conflict resolution - teaching - leadership Key Concepts humility empathy wisdom Questions to Reflect On - When might honesty be necessary despite discomfort? - How can you convey truth kindly? A Different Perspective Silence may hide issues that need addressing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [çometimes , silence is better than the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-knight/ometimes-silence-is-better-than-the-truth/) [Kevin Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-knight/) > [There is a lot of silence in me, and I feel that silence is often better than spoken words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randeep-hooda/there-is-a-lot-of-silence-in-me-and-i-feel-that-silence-is-often/) [Randeep Hooda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randeep-hooda/) > [Speech is better than silence; silence is better than speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/speech-is-better-than-silence-silence-is-better-than-speech/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Good as is discourse, silence is better, and shames it. The length of the discourse indicates the distance of thought betwixt the speaker and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-as-is-discourse-silence-is-better-and-shames-it-the-length-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Silence is something more than just a pause; it is that enchanted place where space is cleared and time is stayed and the horizon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/silence-is-something-more-than-just-a-pause-it-is-that-enchanted/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [It is better to sit alone than in company with the bad, and it is better still to sit with the good than alone.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad/it-is-better-to-sit-alone-than-in-company-with-the-bad-and-it-is/) [Muhammad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad/) > [Good as is discourse, silence is better and shames it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/good-as-is-discourse-silence-is-better-and-shames-it/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The right sort of lie, I found, could serve better than the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mcomber/the-right-sort-of-lie-i-found-could-serve-better-than-the-truth/) [Adam McOmber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mcomber/) > [I have to conclude that fiction is better at 'the truth' than a factual record,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-have-to-conclude-that-fiction-is-better-at-the-truth-than-a-factual/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [It is better the truth should come little by little. I have learned that, being a priest. Perhaps, in the old days, they ate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/it-is-better-the-truth-should-come-little-by-little-i-have-learned/) [Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/) > [Which is better, truth that is a lie or the lie that is truth?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/which-is-better-truth-that-is-a-lie-or-the-lie-that-is-truth/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [When all is said and done, how do we know but that our own unreason may be better than another's truth? for it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/when-all-is-said-and-done-how-do-we-know-but-that-our-own-unreason/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [Don't lie to me to feel me better,, the truth is much much better,,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-lie-to-me-to-feel-me-better-the-truth-is-much-much-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We often pray to be better, when in truth we only want to feel better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mignon-mclaughlin/we-often-pray-to-be-better-when-in-truth-we-only-want-to-feel-better/) [Mignon McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mignon-mclaughlin/) > [“Falsehood of a good man is better than truth of a bad one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheel-farooq/falsehood-of-a-good-man-is-better-than-truth-of-a-bad-one/) [Raheel Farooq](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheel-farooq/) ## More by Saint Francis de Sales > [Flowers often grow more beautifully on dung-hills than in gardens that look beautifully kept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/flowers-often-grow-more-beautifully-on-dung-hills-than-in-gardens/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Friendship requires great communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/friendship-requires-great-communication/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [The thoughts of those moved by natural human love are almost completely fastened on the beloved, their hearts are filled with passion for it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/the-thoughts-of-those-moved-by-natural-human-love-are-almost/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [It matters little how one begins, provided that he be resolved to go on well, and to end well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/it-matters-little-how-one-begins-provided-that-he-be-resolved-to-go/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Those who love to be feared fear to be loved, and they themselves are more afraid than anyone, for whereas other men fear only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/those-who-love-to-be-feared-fear-to-be-loved-and-they-themselves-are/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Go to your confessor; open your heart to him; display to him all the recesses of your soul; take the advice that he will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/go-to-your-confessor-open-your-heart-to-him-display-to-him-all-the/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [It is better to remain silent than to speak the truth ill-humoredly, and spoil an excellent dish by covering it with bad sauce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/it-is-better-to-remain-silent-than-to-speak-the-truth-ill-humoredly/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Friendships begun in this world will be taken up again, never to be broken off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/friendships-begun-in-this-world-will-be-taken-up-again-never-to-be/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [And when children begin to use their reason, fathers and mothers should take great pains to fill their hearts with the fear of God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/and-when-children-begin-to-use-their-reason-fathers-and-mothers/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [Pride dies 20 minutes after death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/pride-dies-20-minutes-after-death/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [To be pleased at correction and reproofs shows that one loves the virtues which are contrary to those faults for which he is corrected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/to-be-pleased-at-correction-and-reproofs-shows-that-one-loves-the/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [If you would fall into any extreme, let it be on the side of gentleness. The human mind is so constructed that it resists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/if-you-would-fall-into-any-extreme-let-it-be-on-the-side-of/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [One single act done with aridity of spirit is worth more than many done with feelings of devotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/one-single-act-done-with-aridity-of-spirit-is-worth-more-than-many/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [All of us can attain to Christian virtue and holiness, no matter in what condition of life we live and no matter what our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/all-of-us-can-attain-to-christian-virtue-and-holiness-no-matter-in/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) > [We must visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament a hundred thousand times a day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/we-must-visit-jesus-in-the-blessed-sacrament-a-hundred-thousand-times/) [Saint Francis de Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) [Explore all 185 Saint Francis de Sales quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/) ## More Charity quotes > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I would have none of that rigid circumspect charity which is never done without scrutiny, and which always mistrusts the truth of the necessities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/i-would-have-none-of-that-rigid-circumspect-charity-which-is-never/) [Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [I shall pray God to send charity into this hideous world, and sympathy for the weak, and love for the unhappy and unfortunate. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wyndham/i-shall-pray-god-to-send-charity-into-this-hideous-world-and-sympathy/) [John Wyndham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wyndham/) > [It is thus only this personal feeling of misery that we get rid of by acts of pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-thus-only-this-personal-feeling-of-misery-that-we-get-rid-of-by/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Considering community support and cost-benefit analysis, I have supported earmarks for projects of high public purpose involving such areas as higher education, alternative energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-fortenberry/considering-community-support-and-cost-benefit-analysis-i-have/) [Jeff Fortenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-fortenberry/) > [It's always great to be able to give back to the community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-vucevic/it-s-always-great-to-be-able-to-give-back-to-the-community/) [Nikola Vucevic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-vucevic/) > [Slander is a poison which kills charity, both in the slanderer and the one who listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-of-clairvaux/slander-is-a-poison-which-kills-charity-both-in-the-slanderer-and-the/) [Bernard of Clairvaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-of-clairvaux/) > [I like to give back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-like-to-give-back/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [We have to restore power to the family, to the neighborhood, and the community with a non-market principle, a principle of equality, of charity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/we-have-to-restore-power-to-the-family-to-the-neighborhood-and-the/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [“It takes a female to have a baby, It takes a woman to raise a child, It takes a mother to raise them correctly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/it-takes-a-female-to-have-a-baby-it-takes-a-woman-to-raise-a-child-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I own about 300 pairs of shoes. When I start to go over 300, I have mini-sales from my closet and give the money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/i-own-about-300-pairs-of-shoes-when-i-start-to-go-over-300-i-have/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) [Browse all 2,477 Charity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A judicious silence is always better than truth spoken without charity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Saint Francis de Sales" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/a-judicious-silence-is-always-better-than-truth-spoken-without-charity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Charity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/a-judicious-silence-is-always-better-than-truth-spoken-without-charity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_charity_a-judicious-silence-is-always-better-tha_628136.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_charity_a-judicious-silence-is-always-better-tha_628136.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/38f/saint-francis-de-sales-2108_charity_a-judicious-silence-is-always-better-tha_628136.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A judicious silence is always better than truth spoken without charity.” — Saint Francis de Sales", "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": "Saint Francis de Sales", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-francis-de-sales/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A judicious silence is always better...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/a-judicious-silence-is-always-better-than-truth-spoken-without-charity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-francis-de-sales/a-judicious-silence-is-always-better-than-truth-spoken-without-charity/#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 } } ] } ```