Say What? Better to remain silent and be thought a fool.../ Tell the truth and shame the devil.
In today’s edition of Say What?, we’ll be taking a look at a couple of sayings that remind you that what you say, or maybe what you don’t say, can have great impact on what people think of you. Let’s jump right into better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt and tell the truth and shame the devil, with some help from the characters in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
Our first adage today has been attributed to both Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain in various forms; one alternate version is “It’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open and remove all doubt.” However, there’s no contemporary evidence that either Lincoln or Twain actually coined the saying in any form. In fact, the Biblical verse Proverbs 17:28 has a similar sentiment: “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” In addition, the saying first appears in a more modern form in Maurice Switzer’s collection of humorous sayings, Mrs. Goose, Her Book, published in 1907, most of which appear to be original. Claiming that either Lincoln or Twain is the originator of the saying may give it an extra zing of humor since they’re both known for their wit, but you’ll be demonstrating the adage.
The meaning of this saying is fairly clear - many of us have not raised our hands in class to give an answer, or have said nothing while in a meeting or brainstorming session, because we didn’t want to look like an idiot. No one wants anyone else to think that they are stupid; in general, we want others to think the best of us, and looking stupid in front of others doesn’t further that end.
Of course, some people have yet to learn that lesson:
Dawn sat at the table covering her face with her hands. “Oh, my God, I can’t believe I said that!”
Buffy patted her shoulder in sympathy. “Well, everyone says stupid things,” she said a bit awkwardly, “you know, from time to time.
“Sometimes, it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt,” Giles intoned from where he stood, peering at the bookshelf. After a moment of silence, he turned to find both Buffy and Dawn glaring at him.
“Like now,” Buffy said.
Tell the truth and shame the devil.
Our second proverb was once a common saying, though it doesn’t seem to be used as much as it once was. It was first recorded in 1555 by Hugh Latimer in his work Twenty Seven Sermons. In it, he says, “There is a common saying amongst vs, Say the truthe and shame the diuel.” Shakespeare also uses this adage in Act III, scene I of Henry IV Part I, when Hotspur says to Glendower, “O, while you live, tell truth and shame the devil!” A brief internet search turns up a few books using this saying as the title as well.
The meaning of this saying is also fairly easy to interpret. What could possibly shame the devil, the Christian personification of evil? Being tempted to lie but telling the truth instead, because that means one has overcome the devil’s temptation.
Of course, overcoming temptation is easier said than done sometimes:
“Dawn, did you take my blue sweater?” Buffy demanded, arms crossed and foot tapping.
Dawn squirmed, confirming her guilt. “No?”
“Buffy,” Giles called from the research table, “are you looking for the Tome of Miks-yez-pittle-ik?”
Buffy flushed. “Yes, Giles.”
Dawn grinned evilly. “Tell the truth and shame the devil, Buffy.”
Buffy glared at her sister. “You’re one to talk!”
If used by characters of the appropriate age or background, either of these sayings can be easily slipped into your works. Just remember that pithy sayings like these can be over used, and it won’t be the devil who is shamed.
Sources:
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
Our first adage today has been attributed to both Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain in various forms; one alternate version is “It’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open and remove all doubt.” However, there’s no contemporary evidence that either Lincoln or Twain actually coined the saying in any form. In fact, the Biblical verse Proverbs 17:28 has a similar sentiment: “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” In addition, the saying first appears in a more modern form in Maurice Switzer’s collection of humorous sayings, Mrs. Goose, Her Book, published in 1907, most of which appear to be original. Claiming that either Lincoln or Twain is the originator of the saying may give it an extra zing of humor since they’re both known for their wit, but you’ll be demonstrating the adage.
The meaning of this saying is fairly clear - many of us have not raised our hands in class to give an answer, or have said nothing while in a meeting or brainstorming session, because we didn’t want to look like an idiot. No one wants anyone else to think that they are stupid; in general, we want others to think the best of us, and looking stupid in front of others doesn’t further that end.
Of course, some people have yet to learn that lesson:
Dawn sat at the table covering her face with her hands. “Oh, my God, I can’t believe I said that!”
Buffy patted her shoulder in sympathy. “Well, everyone says stupid things,” she said a bit awkwardly, “you know, from time to time.
“Sometimes, it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt,” Giles intoned from where he stood, peering at the bookshelf. After a moment of silence, he turned to find both Buffy and Dawn glaring at him.
“Like now,” Buffy said.
Tell the truth and shame the devil.
Our second proverb was once a common saying, though it doesn’t seem to be used as much as it once was. It was first recorded in 1555 by Hugh Latimer in his work Twenty Seven Sermons. In it, he says, “There is a common saying amongst vs, Say the truthe and shame the diuel.” Shakespeare also uses this adage in Act III, scene I of Henry IV Part I, when Hotspur says to Glendower, “O, while you live, tell truth and shame the devil!” A brief internet search turns up a few books using this saying as the title as well.
The meaning of this saying is also fairly easy to interpret. What could possibly shame the devil, the Christian personification of evil? Being tempted to lie but telling the truth instead, because that means one has overcome the devil’s temptation.
Of course, overcoming temptation is easier said than done sometimes:
“Dawn, did you take my blue sweater?” Buffy demanded, arms crossed and foot tapping.
Dawn squirmed, confirming her guilt. “No?”
“Buffy,” Giles called from the research table, “are you looking for the Tome of Miks-yez-pittle-ik?”
Buffy flushed. “Yes, Giles.”
Dawn grinned evilly. “Tell the truth and shame the devil, Buffy.”
Buffy glared at her sister. “You’re one to talk!”
If used by characters of the appropriate age or background, either of these sayings can be easily slipped into your works. Just remember that pithy sayings like these can be over used, and it won’t be the devil who is shamed.
Sources: