Charles Caleb Colton Quotes about Silence

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When you have nothing to say, say nothing; a weak defense strengthens your opponent, and silence is less injurious than a bad reply.

When you have nothing to say, say nothing; a weak defense strengthens your opponent, and silence is less injurious than a bad reply.

Charles Caleb Colton

Silence, Defense, Opponents

Philip Dormer Stanhope (4th earl of Chesterfield.), Charles Caleb Colton (1861). “Lord Chesterfield's advice to his son on men and manners. To which are added, selections from Colton's 'Lacon'.”, p.227

Silence is less injurious than a weak reply.

Charles Caleb Colton

Silence, Argument, Weak

When you have nothing to say, say nothing.

Charles Caleb Colton

Teaching, Silence, Statistics

'Lacon' (1820) vol. 1, no. 183

A man's profundity may keep him from opening on a first interview, and his caution on a second; but I should suspect his emptiness, if he carried on his reserve to a third.

Charles Caleb Colton

Men, Silence, May

Charles Caleb Colton (1836). “Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Addressed to Those who Think”, p.350

Constant success shows us but one side of the world. For as it surrounds us with friends who will tell us only our merits, so it silences those enemies from whom alone we can learn our defects.

Charles Caleb Colton

Success, Silence, Achievement

Charles Caleb Colton (1824). “Lacon, Or, Many Things in a Few Words: Addressed to Those who Think”, p.217