Silence

Ships that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness; So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another, 2 Only a look and a voice; then darkness again and a silence.

No voice; but oh! the silence sank Like music on my heart.

A noise like of a hidden brook In the leafy month of June, That to the sleeping woods all night Singeth a quiet tune.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown, Thus unlamented let me die, Steal from the world, and not a stone Tell where I lie.

How sweetly did they float upon the wings Of silence, through the empty-vaulted night, At every fall smoothing the raven down Of darkness till it smil’d!

Calumnies are answered best with silence.

The silence often of pure innocence Persuades when speaking fails.

My gracious silence, hail!

Soun ys noght but eyr ybroken, And every speche that ys spoken, Lowd or pryvee, foul or fair, In his substaunce ys but air.

Sleep that masters all.

Don't you know that silence supports the accuser's charge?

Much wisdom often goes with fewest words.

Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.

Your silence gives consent.

Silence is true wisdom's best reply.

Silence is safer than speech.

Keep silence for the most part, and speak only when you must, and then briefly.

The pause - that impressive silence, that eloquent silence, that geometrically progressive silence which often achieves a desired effect where no combination of words, howsoever felicitous, could accomplish it.

Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing.

The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.

If you have nothing to say, say nothing.

This is. And thou art. There is no safety. There is no end. The word must be heard in silence. There must be darkness to see the stars. The dance is always danced above the hollow place, above the terrible abyss.

Sometimes I'd yell questions at the rocks and trees, and across gorges, or yodel - "What is the meaning of the void?" The answer was perfect silence, so I knew.

Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent.