Silence is golden

Satyamurti was a leading nationalist. He was known for his oratory. His words carried logic and reason, wit and wisdom. So he usually got the better of others in arguments. Once he went to England to present India's case for freedom. He met leading politicians in Britain. He pleaded with them to restore self-government to India. He addressed several public meetings. They were well attended. At one meeting, while he was presenting India's case for freedom, a heckler asked, "Do you know that the sun never sets on the British Empire?" That was true. For Britain had colonies all around the globe. And always it was day in some or the other part of the Empire.
Satyamurti looked in the general direction of the crowd from where the question had come and smiled. The heckler felt he had nettled Satyamurti. He thought Satyamurti would not have a convincing reply. Here he went wrong. For Satyamurti replied, "Do you know why? Even the sun doesn't trust the British in the dark." The laughter of the crowd pitched high. The heckler quickly ran out. He had learnt one lesson. He had met more than his match. He should have remained silent. He should not have heckled Satyamurti.


Meaning: Be a man of few words. Speak only if you must. Think before you speak. For a word and a stone, once launched, cannot be called back.

Alternatives: Nothing is opened more by mistake than the mouth. Let not your tongue cut your throat. Much wisdom often goes with fewest words.