--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a happy art to know when one has…" description: "\"It is a happy art to know when one has said enough. I would leave my hearers wishing me to say more rather than give them cause toshow, by their inatte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/samuel-richardson-1695_art_it-is-a-happy-art-to-know-when-one-has-s_1267277.png" --- # It is a happy art to know when one has said enough. I… ![“It is a happy art to know when one has said enough. I would leave my hearers wishing me to say more rather than give them cause toshow, by their inattention, that I had said too much.” quote by Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/samuel-richardson-1695_art_it-is-a-happy-art-to-know-when-one-has-s_1267277.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/samuel-richardson-1695_art_it-is-a-happy-art-to-know-when-one-has-s_1267277.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1a7/samuel-richardson-1695_art_it-is-a-happy-art-to-know-when-one-has-s_1267277.png) > “It is a happy art to know when one has said enough. I would leave my hearers wishing me to say more rather than give them cause toshow, by their inattention, that I had said too much.” [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Knowing when to stop speaking shows respect for listeners and preserves dignity. **In simple terms:** Speak enough, not too much. Key Takeaway Speak with restraint. Themes respect communication humility Mood thoughtful calm Type advice reflective When to use this quote - public speaking - teaching - negotiations - personal relationships Key Concepts self‑control social grace Questions to Reflect On - When have you spoken too much? - How can silence enhance your message? A Different Perspective Over‑cautiousness may limit necessary honesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Inattention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inattention/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [“Let them say what they will, 'cause they will anyhow. 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I only know what I said and what I intended to convey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-can-t-speculate-on-what-did-or-did-not-happen-i-only-know-what-i/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“You. Don’t. Know,” he said softly. “You don’t know…what I would do…to keep you.” ~ Winn”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-b-brown/you-don-t-know-he-said-softly-you-don-t-know-what-i-would-do-to-keep/) [E.B. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-b-brown/) > [“I know,” he said, very softly. “Let’s go home. Let’s go home, and you can tell me whatever you want, and I’ll believe you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlyn-kane/i-know-he-said-very-softly-let-s-go-home-let-s-go-home-and-you-can/) [Ashlyn Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlyn-kane/) ## More by Samuel Richardson > [I never knew a man who deserved to be thought well of for his morals who had a slight opinion of our Sex in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/i-never-knew-a-man-who-deserved-to-be-thought-well-of-for-his-morals/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The life of a good man was a continual warfare with his passions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-life-of-a-good-man-was-a-continual-warfare-with-his-passions/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [A beautiful woman must expect to be more accountable for her steps, than one less attractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/a-beautiful-woman-must-expect-to-be-more-accountable-for-her-steps/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The person who is worthiest to live, is fittest to die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-person-who-is-worthiest-to-live-is-fittest-to-die/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Vast is the field of Science... the more a man knows, the more he will find he has to know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/vast-is-the-field-of-science-the-more-a-man-knows-the-more-he-will/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The difference in the education of men and women must give the former great advantages over the latter, even where geniuses are equal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/the-difference-in-the-education-of-men-and-women-must-give-the-former/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [There are men who think themselves too wise to be religious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/there-are-men-who-think-themselves-too-wise-to-be-religious/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Love is a blazing, crackling, green-wood flame, as much smoke as flame; friendship, married friendship particularly, is a steady,intense, comfortable fire. Love, in courtship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/love-is-a-blazing-crackling-green-wood-flame-as-much-smoke-as-flame/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [A good man will honor him who lives up to his religious profession, whatever it be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/a-good-man-will-honor-him-who-lives-up-to-his-religious-profession/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Quantity in diet is more to be regarded than quality. A full meal is a great enemy both to study and industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/quantity-in-diet-is-more-to-be-regarded-than-quality-a-full-meal-is-a/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [Superstitious notions propagated in infancy are hardly ever totally eradicate, not even in minds grown strong enough to despise the like credulous folly in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/superstitious-notions-propagated-in-infancy-are-hardly-ever-totally/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [The eye is the casement at which the heart generally looks out. 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The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. 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