Language disguises thought.

To be silent. In hopes of not offending, in hopes of being accepted.

But what happened to people who never spoke, never raised their voices? Kept everything inside?

Gamache knew what happened. Everything they swallowed, every word, thought, feeling rattled around inside, hollowing the person out. And into that chasm they stuffed their words, their rage.

Half-wits talk much, but say little.

Tenía una manera de hablar que más bien le servía para ocultar que para decir.

In some situations, if you say nothing, you are called dull; if you talk, you are thought impertinent and arrogant. It is hard to know what to do in this case. The question seems to be, whether your vanity or your prudence predominates.

There are some that only employ words for the purpose of disguising their thoughts.

You can't say everything, so you don't say nothing.

I think a lot, but I don't say much.

Use words to please, to instruct, to soothe. Then stop speaking.

Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen.

Well that's it: if you don't think, you shouldn't talk!

Better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

The world is filled with polite, shy, inscrutable, unintelligible, tight lipped, superficial, dishonest and also honest people who for one reason or another do not say what they think. The search for freedom of speech has barely begun. Many do not reveal their thoughts because they are not sure what they think. Many would be braver in their speech if they were more certain of a sympathetic hearing. Many, particularly in places where success depends on conformity, are schooled to be hypocrites. The hidden thoughts in other people’s heads are the great darkness that surrounds us.

Do not speak unless you can improve on the silence.