James Baquet

    No one is sure of the origin of today’s proverb, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

    It has been attributed to Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, and others.

    It may date back to the Biblical “Book of Proverbs,” which says (in chapter 17, verse 28): “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace [doesn’t speak], is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”

    Let’s see the expression in modern use.

    James sees his student, a girl named Anita, coming from the auditorium.

    James: Hi, Anita. How are you?

    Anita: Boy, is my face red!

    James: Really? What happened?

    Anita: We were having a mock trial and my opponent said that, according to Socrates, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”

    James: So?

    Anita: Well, I challenged her on it, and said that wasn’t Socrates, it was the Bible.

    James: Uh-oh…

    Anita: Yup. I ended up with egg on my face!

    James: And what did you learn?

    Anita: Well, actually, I wasn’t sure about the source of the quote. So I guess Lincoln was right: “Better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool…”

    James: Um, are you sure that was Lincoln?

    Anita: Don’t tell me!

    James: Yeah. Could have been any number of people, but the best bet is?

    Anita: The Bible?

    James: You got it in one!

    Anita: Too little too late, though, right?

    James: Better late than never!

    Anita: But better never late!

    Notes on the dialogue:

    — Boy, is my face red: I’m embarrassed.

    — A mock trial: An exercise in which students take the roles of lawyers, judges, etc.

    — The unexamined life is not worth living: From the Greek philosopher Socrates, it means one should look closely at one’s assumptions.

    — The Bible: With Shakespeare, one of the most common sources of quotations in English.

    — To have egg on one’s face: To be embarrassed, especially after being caught making a mistake.

    — Better to keep your mouth shut…: A variation on today’s proverb.

    — Don’t tell me!: A fixed expression used when one doesn’t want to hear bad news. Here, Anita is afraid that  the source of this quotation will be the Bible, which she falsely guessed was the source of the Socrates quotation.

    — The best bet: The most likely choice.

    — You got it in one: A British expression, meaning you were correct after only one try.

    — Too little too late: Said when one has missed the goal.

    — Better late than never: It is better to do something too late than not to do it at all.

    — But better never late: A common reply to the previous expression, meaning it’s better to get things done on time.