Judith Martin Quotes

I always mean what I say, but I don't always say what I'm thinking.

I've learned I'm not lying by not saying anything, so I just don't say it anymore.

A man is known by the silence he keeps.

If you're not sure of what to say, don't say anything.

Have you ever heard the phrase, it is better to keep your mouth closed and have people wonder if you are stupid than open it and remove all doubt? (Hakim al Harbi)

It is given to few persons to keep this secret well. Those who lay down rules too often break them, and the safest we are able to give is to listen much, to speak little, and to say nothing that that will ever give ground or regret.

There's nothing wrong with keeping your mouth shut if you don't have anything nice to say.

Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth.

Never miss an opportunity to shut up.

We must distinguish between speaking to deceive and being silent to be reserved.

All truth is not to be told at all times.

Also, when I didn't like something, I could keep my opinion to myself.

One of the most beneficial things I've ever learned is how to keep my mouth shut.

You have to steer a course between not appalling people, but at the same time not misleading them.

There's a real wisdom to not saying a thing.

Silence and tact may or may not be the same thing.

I don't debate with liars.

An Englishman's never so natural as when he's holding his tongue.

Honesty is a good thing, but it is not profitable to its possessor unless it is kept under control.

There are two great rules of life: never tell everything at once.

When I think it's good not to say the truth, I don't say anything. I don't like actors in general, they lie, they are liars, trust me.

There is no point in asking a man a question until you have established whether he has any reason to lie to you.

It's very important in life to know when to shut up. You should not be afraid of silence.

He who is dishonest with respect to speech, is dishonest in everything.

It illustrates vividly my incapacity of knowing when to be silent and when to speak.