“Silence is Golden”
Silence is golden — To keep quiet is a great virtue.
This expression is the second half of an old proverb: “Speech is silver, but silence is golden.” It began to be much repeated in the nineteenth century. Thomas Carlyle referred to it as a Swiss proverb in Sartor Resartus (1831). Various witty takes emerged later, including the humorous variant by Ogden Nash: “Silence is golden, but sometimes invisibility is golder” (from I Never Even Suggested It, 1938).
Synonyms:
- Button your lip: Keep quiet.
- Mum’s the word: If you give me any more grief, I’m sending you to time-out island!
- Keep it on the down-low: Keep it a secret.
Antonyms:
- Blabbermouth syndrome: Cannot keep a secret to save their life.
- Bully pulpit: Using one’s platform to speak incessantly.
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “Loudmouths may be the life of the party, but the true heroes are those who don’t end up saying something they regret!” — Anonymous Whisperer.
- “Why is seeing believing, but speaking isn’t gold? We trust eyes more than mouths!” — An Open-Eyed Silencer.
Related Proverbs and Expressions:
- Empty vessels make the most noise: Those who have the least to contribute often speak the loudest.
- Still waters run deep: Quiet people often have a lot of depth or hidden talents.
- The cat’s got your tongue: Used to address a person who is unusually silent.
Literature & Books:
- Sartor Resartus by Thomas Carlyle — He brought the proverb to widespread recognition.
- Silence: A Social History of One of the Least Understood Elements of Our Lives by Jane Brox.
- Shutting Out the Sun: How Japan Created Its Own Lost Generation by Michael Zielenziger — Explores the culturally complex relationship with silence.
Songs:
- “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel.
- “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode.
- “Golden Slumbers” by The Beatles.
Movies:
- The Artist (2011) — A silent film that won the audience’s heart.
- A Quiet Place (2018) — Where survival depends on silence.
Thought-provoking Farewell:
“Remember, sometimes the most powerful message is delivered not in the noise of words, but in the profound tranquillity of silence.” — Serena Silence
### Which of these reflects the true meaning of "Silence is golden"?
- [x] Keeping quiet is a great virtue.
- [ ] Wearing gold makes you shiny.
- [ ] Gold doesn't make noise.
- [ ] Speaking loudly at all times is valuable.
> **Explanation:** “Silence is golden” means that keeping quiet is often more valuable than speaking.
### What does "Mum's the word" mean?
- [ ] Speak up loudly.
- [ ] Sing a song.
- [x] Keep it a secret.
- [ ] Mutter something irrelevant.
> **Explanation:** "Mum's the word" is a way to tell someone to keep quiet about something.
### True or False: "Bully pulpit" is an antonym to "Silence is golden"
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** A "bully pulpit" refers to using one's power to speak out frequently and loudly, the opposite of valuing silence.
### Who referred to "Silence is golden" as a Swiss proverb?
- [ ] Ogden Nash
- [ ] William Shakespeare
- [x] Thomas Carlyle
- [ ] Mark Twain
> **Explanation:** Thomas Carlyle referred to it as a Swiss proverb in his work *Sartor Resartus* (1831).
### Which song is NOT related to the theme of silence?
- [ ] "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel
- [ ] "Enjoy the Silence" by Depeche Mode
- [x] "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles
- [ ] "Golden Slumbers" by The Beatles
> **Explanation:** "Twist and Shout" is an upbeat song encouraging movement and noise, unrelated to the theme of silence.
