The Old Ways

Egyptian · Maxims of Ptahhotep · 9 of 23

On Silence

Battiscombe Gunn, 1906

If thou art a man of those who sit at the place of another greater than thyself, accept all that he gives with gratitude. Laugh not when he speaks; it displeases him. Weary him not with questions. For he speaks to thee only when he wills, and the wise man listens. Silence is more profitable than abundance of speech.