“Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” – Benjamin Franklin
Looking back over my life I must say that I have been more often repentant for things I have said than for times of inapposite silence. Moreover, I can scarcely think of another action more significant to the strengthening of my developing authority as a young man than the delivery of a well-placed silence.
“Never miss a good chance to shut up.” – Will Rogers
Gregory Hake 
That is true. I need to learn to calm down and shut up.
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Blabbing tends to be a way to release the pressure of a situation. Not speaking when you should be speaking is not right either, but I also see that the tendency is to go in the other direction. Use a strategic silent moment to keep the pressure on when it is driving change in the right direction.
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Love the Will Rogers quotation. Your post calls for greater maturity and poise. It is good to acknowledge the necessary space needed for creation to continue through us.
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There can be a tendency to feel duty-bound to speak whenever a word is solicited, as though it were rude not to do so. Perhaps that can be true on occasion, but speaking should be impelled by a concern for the right thing, not by the concerns of others. Learning this is so crucial. Thanks for highlighting it!
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Silence can be likened to the white space in a painting or a rest in music. What isn’t said can never dilute your point. I think it was Abrahm Lincoln that said it’s better to say nothing and be thought a fool; than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Silence is as powerful as words, it can soothe or injure.
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Situations do tempt unfitting expressions at times, when either you know before what it is you say is not clear and you say it anyway or you say what you say without care or concern where in hindsight you should have sucked it down or you actually say what you thought was right but then reviewing your motive later you discover error. The fine art of communication comes with age if it even comes at all, if it means enough to you to review yourself and if you are humble enough to admit imperfection. You have to care. If so, there’s a good chance wisdom is acquired and you can temper your speech with well placed pauses and rests. After all, there should be at least one other person in the conversation which gives you a chance to listen and gives others a chance to think.
In fact, well timed pauses can put a bit of pressure on an individual to reflect on the topic and state their perspective, one which you might never find out if you didn’t open up space. Sometimes even that bit of pressure forces an individual to be clear and state their position on a given point, so in effect you are helping them define themselves where they have been on the fence about it. Sometimes the same happens to you, where your own excessive ramble distracts you from clarity. Alot can be said about not saying anything!
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You can’t take words back once they’ve been spoken. On the other hand, if we are silent when we should speak, that could be just as damaging. To learn when to speak and when to remain silent is so important in life.
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A good reminder – thanks (:
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So true!!!
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