He used to sit at a water stall, next to a table with several people arguing very enthusiastically. They spoke from football, stocks, real estate, gold prices to international politics. Everything was as decisive as if just stepping out of a meeting of heads of state. Before one person finished speaking, the other intervened with a familiar opening sentence: "I'm telling the truth..." or "In my opinion, it's very simple...". The interesting thing is that the longer people listen, the more they realize that most of the knowledge is just a few pieces of information swiped through the internet, mixed with very admirable confidence.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the shop, an elderly man sat silently drinking tea. Occasionally, people turned to ask for his opinion, he just smiled and said a few short sentences. Not lengthy, not trying to beat anyone, but everyone nodded. It turns out, words have weight not because of their loud volume, but because behind them is experience.
Once, you followed a delegation of reporters to the flood area. On the way, many people in the car argued very enthusiastically about how to provide relief. Some said it had to be this way, others said it had to be that way. Arriving there, a soldier didn't say much. He just quietly carried each bag of rice, carried each old man across the flooded water. After a day, his clothes were covered in mud. No one remembered what he said, but everyone remembered what he did.
Life is inherently fair. Little knowledge is not worrisome, no one is born knowing everything. What is worrisome is knowing very little but wanting to prove that they know a lot. The gap in understanding is often filled with loudness. People who truly understand a field are often cautious with each conclusion, because they know the world is much broader than what they have learned.
But silence is not necessarily wise. There are times when it is necessary to speak out to protect the weak, or say sorry, thank you, love before it is too late. And there are people who say a lot but the more they listen, the more respectful they become, because each sentence contains knowledge, kindness, or life experience.
Therefore, it is not about saying less or saying more. But before speaking, ask yourself if the words you are about to say will make others understand better, better. If the answer is no, then silence is more valuable than a speech. Because words are like a window opening into the human soul. There are times when silence is not because there is nothing to say, but because you understand enough to know what is worth saying.
