--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A person who is discreet in speaking will…" description: "\"A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad.\" — Yamamoto Tsunetomo" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/yamamoto-tsunetomo-4367_discreet_a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-wil_100975.png" --- # A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during… ![“A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad.” quote by Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/yamamoto-tsunetomo-4367_discreet_a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-wil_100975.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/yamamoto-tsunetomo-4367_discreet_a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-wil_100975.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/yamamoto-tsunetomo-4367_discreet_a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-wil_100975.png) > “A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad.” [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discreet speech protects you in both prosperity and adversity, preventing resentment and punitive consequences. **In simple terms:** Speak wisely to avoid trouble. Key Takeaway Discretion safeguards reputation. Themes communication prudence social harmony risk management Mood thoughtful cautious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - political negotiations - corporate meetings - family gatherings Key Concepts self‑control social intelligence Practical Applications - Practice pause‑and‑reflect before speaking - Adopt concise, factual language Questions to Reflect On - When does silence become detrimental? - How can one balance honesty with discretion? A Different Perspective Over‑cautiousness can suppress authentic expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Good times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-times/) [Punishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/punishment/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I wanted to show that crime doesn't pay. 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F. Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-f-skinner/) > [“5So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience.+”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyndale/5so-you-must-submit-to-them-not-only-to-avoid-punishment-but-also-to/) [Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyndale/) > [A person who has been punished is not thereby simply less inclined to behave in a given way; at best, he learns how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-person-who-has-been-punished-is-not-thereby-simply-less-inclined-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I have always been discreet in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-golo-kante/i-have-always-been-discreet-in-my-life/) [N'Golo Kante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-golo-kante/) > [You know what I never get with the limo? The tinted windows. Is that so people don't see you? 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No matter what you do, they will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/it-is-better-not-to-become-acquainted-with-men-about-whom-you-have/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [When one has made a decision to kill a person, even if it will be very difficult to succeed by advancing straight ahead, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/when-one-has-made-a-decision-to-kill-a-person-even-if-it-will-be-very/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [ “\[...\] if one seeks to resolve a problem, let it sit for a while, take time to think about the “Four Oaths” and subdue… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/if-one-seeks-to-resolve-a-problem-let-it-sit-for-a-while-take-time-to/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [It is a principle of the art of war that one should simply lay down his life and strike. 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One should not look for anything else in the Way of the Samurai. If one understands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/it-is-bad-when-one-thing-becomes-two-one-should-not-look-for-anything/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [When delivering something like an important letter or other written materials, grasp it firmly in your hand as you go and do not release…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/when-delivering-something-like-an-important-letter-or-other-written/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [One should make his decisions within the space of seven breaths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/one-should-make-his-decisions-within-the-space-of-seven-breaths/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [Continue to spur a running horse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/continue-to-spur-a-running-horse/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) > [“Nie­ka­da ne­gal­vok, jog pa­sie­kei pa­kan­ka­mą su­vo­ki­mo laips­nį. Vi­suo­met min­ty­se kar­tok sau: „To ne­už­ten­ka.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/nie-ka-da-ne-gal-vok-jog-pa-sie-kei-pa-kan-ka-m-su-vo-ki-mo-laips-n/) [Yamamoto Tsunetomo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) [Explore all 105 Yamamoto Tsunetomo quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/) ## More Discreet quotes > [I was a very sickly child. My parents were immigrants. They were not decorous. They were not discreet. They always thought I was gonna…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/i-was-a-very-sickly-child-my-parents-were-immigrants-they-were-not/) [Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/) > [Chaperons, even in their days of glory, were almost never able to enforce morality; what they did was to force immorality to be discreet.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/chaperons-even-in-their-days-of-glory-were-almost-never-able-to/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [I’ll be real discreet,” Tank said. As discreet as a six-foot-six, no-neck guy weighing three hundred and fifty pounds, all dressed in black SWAT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-ll-be-real-discreet-tank-said-as-discreet-as-a-six-foot-six-no-neck/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [There is a justice, but we do not always see it. Discreet, smiling, it is there, at one side, a little behind injustice, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/there-is-a-justice-but-we-do-not-always-see-it-discreet-smiling-it-is/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [I try to learn from both, from features and documentaries. In both cases you have to find a way to make the camera as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-gondry/i-try-to-learn-from-both-from-features-and-documentaries-in-both/) [Michel Gondry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-gondry/) > [You know what I never get with the limo? The tinted windows. Is that so people don't see you? Yeah, what a better way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/you-know-what-i-never-get-with-the-limo-the-tinted-windows-is-that-so/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I have always been discreet in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-golo-kante/i-have-always-been-discreet-in-my-life/) [N'Golo Kante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-golo-kante/) > [I am rather discreet and shy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-clayderman/i-am-rather-discreet-and-shy/) [Richard Clayderman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-clayderman/) > [“photographer had been discreet;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/photographer-had-been-discreet/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hope that increasing numbers of Christians adopt the practice of wearing a cross in a simple and discreet way as a symbol of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-o-brien/i-hope-that-increasing-numbers-of-christians-adopt-the-practice-of/) [Keith O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-o-brien/) > [The lips on my upper right bicep are my girlfriend's lips. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/i-don-t-speak-about-my-pain-my-pain-is-something-that-doesn-t-need-to/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [ While the discreet advise, the foole doth his busines. \[While the discreet advise, the fool doth his busines.\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/while-the-discreet-advise-the-foole-doth-his-busines-while-the/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [I am incapable of speaking of myself and of my life and the states of my soul, I am discreet to an almost pathological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/i-am-incapable-of-speaking-of-myself-and-of-my-life-and-the-states-of/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) Browse all 107 Discreet quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during the bad.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yamamoto Tsunetomo" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-will-be-useful-during-the-good/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discreet" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-will-be-useful-during-the-good/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/yamamoto-tsunetomo-4367_discreet_a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-wil_100975.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/yamamoto-tsunetomo-4367_discreet_a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-wil_100975.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0b5/yamamoto-tsunetomo-4367_discreet_a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-wil_100975.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A person who is discreet in speaking will be useful during the good times and will avoid punishment during…” — Yamamoto Tsunetomo", "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": "Yamamoto Tsunetomo", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yamamoto-tsunetomo/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A person who is discreet in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-will-be-useful-during-the-good/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yamamoto-tsunetomo/a-person-who-is-discreet-in-speaking-will-be-useful-during-the-good/#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 } } ] } ```