Silence can come in many ways. At times, it comes from a place of fear, grief, shock, or despair. At other times, it comes from a place of wisdom, self-control, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness.

What are some positive aspects of silence?

Silence is wisdom. Those who are wise are watchful over the words that come out their mouth. It takes strength, dignity, responsibility, and self-control to be silent.

Silence is a great teacher. It teaches you to listen when others are speaking, and gives you an opportunity to hear someone else. If you speak when someone else is talking, the worth of your own words is diminished. Listening means paying attention and being silent so that others can speak and be heard.

Silence can help master adversity and keep the peace. Sometimes when we are angry, we say things that we don’t mean and end up regretting it later on. Silence helps you to think before you decide to speak—and helps you determine if you need to speak at all. Remember, you cannot misquote silence.

Silence can be challenging at times, but sometimes a person’s silence can be more powerful than a thousand words. Take some time to consider the silences in your life, and think about what silence—in its many forms—has taught you.