Analysis for Proverbs 17:28?

Question

--"Even a stubborn fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent. He is considered intelligent if he keeps his lips sealed."

What does this mean to you?

Has anyone heard the famous quote by Ben Franklin, "It is better for you to keep silent and have people think you're stupid, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."?

Any parallels?

Explain.

Answer 1

I think both lines pretty much say the same thing. Uncertainty is a companion of silence. Once you say something, people can base their judgments on how wise or foolish you are on the evidence of your own works.

People talk too much nowadays while saying nothing intelligent at all - just talking for the sake of making noise. I think the world would be a better and quieter place if people chose their words more carefully and spoke when necessary, instead of "just because."

Answer 2

These two quotes say basically the same thing. They are saying that if a fool keeps his mouth shut even he can be mistaken for wise. I am not quite sure what it is getting at though but this is as much as I have figured out.

Answer 3

+PAX

I love Proverbs! My DR bible says:

"Even a fool if he will hold his peace will be considered wise. If he close his lips, a man of understanding."

I think he and old Ben were on the same track... definitely.

Keep your foot out of your mouth and listen rather than talk, you might learn something- this is what I think they both are saying.

In Humility,
j

Answer 4

Means the same thing but worded in a different way. It makes a lot of sense, because when you think about it, you don't really know how intelligent or stupid a person is until they open their mouth!!

Answer 5

Einstein wrote; " A genius is 99% working and 1% thinking"

Maybe the proverbs 17:28 is giving advise to keep ones silence is safer in their time.

Answer 6

People have a natural tendency to think someone who listens quietly and attentively to them talk and give their pearls of wisdom must be intelligent.