Speech Quotes

Free speech carries with it some freedom to listen.

Much talking is the cause of danger. Silence is the means of avoiding misfortune. The talkative parrot is shut up in a cage. Other birds, without speech, fly freely about.

Bore: one who has the power of speech but not the capacity for conversation.

If nobody spoke unless he had something to say, the human race would very soon lose the use of speech.

Men of few words are the best men.

I do know of these that... only are reputed wise for saying nothing.

Talkers are no good doers; be assur'd we come to use our hands and not our tongues.

Be check'd for silence, but never tax'd for speech.

How absolute the knave is! we must speak by the card, or equivocation will undo us.

I do not speak to thee in drink but in tears, not in pleasure but in passion, not in words only, but in woes also.

Weighest thy words before thou givest them breath.

Things are often spoke and seldom meant.

Be it art or hap, he hath spoken true.

Though thou speak'st truth, methink thou speak'st not well.

Where there is a great deal of free speech there is always a certain amount of foolish speech.

Today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence that they can't read them either.

Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech.

Discretion in speech is more than eloquence.

Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.

Be a craftsman in speech that thou mayest be strong, for the strength of one is the tongue, and speech is mightier than all fighting.

Let thy speech be short, comprehending much in a few words.

Speak when you are angry--and you will make the best speech you'll ever regret.

The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.

Great wisdom is generous; petty wisdom is contentious. Great speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous.

Speech is a mirror of the soul: as a man speaks, so is he.

Much speech is one thing, well-timed speech is another.

It is a great thing to know the season for speech and the season for silence.

Thought is the fountain of speech.

Speech is the mirror of the mind.
(Imago Animi Sermo Est)

In anger we should refrain both from speech and action.

Tears at times have all the weight of speech.

All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action.

In a free state there should be freedom of speech and thought.

Where the speech is corrupted, the mind is also.

The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency.

Readiness of speech is often inability to hold the tongue.

Do not fight verbosity with words: speech is given to all, intelligence to few.

The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is besides the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech.

Speech is human, silence is divine, yet also brutish and dead: therefore we must learn both arts.

Look wise, say nothing, and grunt. Speech was given to conceal thought.

Brevity is the soul of wit.

Ill deeds are doubled with an evil word.

It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.

I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.

I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.

What this country needs is more free speech worth listening to.