They say speech is silver but silence is golden. I’m into precious stones myself, so I’d prefer turquoise or topaz. And besides, I’m allergic to metals. They also say silence means consent, though I’m not sure why, because refusal to speak usually means the exact opposite. I think it’s called passive aggression.
While neo-wisdom claims that ‘bricks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,’ sages warn against the power of the tongue. Broken bones can mend, and wounds can heal, but words are remembered forever, and they cut where no doctor or balm can reach.
So we can agree on the power of words. But there’s one weapon that’s even stronger ...and that’s the lack of them. Sulky silence has drawn confessions from unfaithful lovers. Isolation has broken some of the toughest criminals. Most sugar-high hyper-sanguine children [and some adults] can be tamed by the silent treatment.
Quietness does have its positives. People think you’re a lot smarter when you stay quiet. It makes you look deep and contemplative, and hides the less-than-intelligent thoughts that are lurking in your mind. For monks and nuns, silence is salvation itself. And even for the noisy ones among us, a few hours of quiet are necessary for sleep.
2 is this: Who’s my boss?
