proverb · Words worth keeping
Still waters run deep.
Still waters run deep.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A quiet or reserved manner can conceal complex feelings, strong convictions or considerable ability. Someone’s lack of outward display does not necessarily tell you how much is going on beneath it.
Example
A colleague rarely speaks in a large meeting, but a careful written proposal reveals detailed understanding of the project’s most difficult problem.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Still water appears calm at the surface, while its depth is not immediately visible. The proverb applies that contrast to people whose thoughts or strengths are not obvious from their manner. It can encourage curiosity about someone who speaks little instead of dismissing them as uninteresting or incapable. It does not prove that every quiet person has hidden wisdom, nor that talkative people lack depth. The lesson is to avoid confusing visibility with substance and to learn about someone through relevant interactions rather than a single impression of their temperament.
When to use it
Use it when recognising depth or ability in someone whose manner is reserved.
Keep in mind
Quietness is not evidence of a particular personality, talent or concealed intention.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their 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
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English