proverb · Words worth keeping
He who knows a great deal does not speak much.
He who knows a great deal does not speak much.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Knowing much paired with speaking little gives restraint an admired relation to understanding. The saying values consideration rather than volume of expression.
What the words are saying
A responsible interpretation does not use quietness as a knowledge test. Expertise can require detailed explanation, and silence can have many causes. A useful application checks whether speech is relevant and supported while allowing questions and clear accounts of a complicated issue.
Everyday example
A speaker gives a concise supported answer and adds detail when the listener needs it.
When to use it
Use it to discuss considered expression without ranking personalities.
What it does not mean
No reliable measure of knowledge from how much someone speaks is established.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference (2014 AD)
Supplied reference B; unit 556; PDF page 52; collection label: Assyria/Ethiopia
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- Assyria/Ethiopia