When Western Union asked Thomas Edison to "name his price" for the ticker he had invented, he asked for several days to think about it. His wife suggested $20,000, but he thought it was too much.
At the appointed time he went to the meeting still unsure as to his sales price. When the official asked, "How much?" he tried to say $20,000 but the words just wouldn't come out of his mouth. The official finally broke the silence and asked, "Well, how about $100,000?"
Often silence allows others to say something better than we could have said ourselves! By keeping quiet, others will have a greater interest in our thoughts; then when we have an interested audience, our words will have greater impact.
The Bible tells us that even a fool may be thought of as wise when his mouth is kept shut. (Proverbs 17:28). In that sense, silence can keep us from embarrassing ourselves. People may think we are smarter than we really are.
When you feel moved to express an opinion, weigh the impact of your words and keep this thought in mind, "The less said, the best said." We can't get in trouble for what we don't say. Like Edison, we might even benefit from our silence.
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin; but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Proverbs 10:19
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