Learn English – Those who speak do not know, those who know do not speak

idiomspopular-refrainsproverbs

We have this idiom-like saying in Turkish. The idea is that there are certain things, topics, etc., if one talks about it, it strongly suggests that he has no idea what he is talking about, else he wouldn't be talking about it (or bragging about it) at all. Though not a one to one analogy, it is like a man in the bar telling the chicks that he is a spy; if he was a spy, he wouldn't be talking about it.

Is there a similar saying or idiom in English?

Best Answer

That saying is common in many languages, including English, and often attributed to a Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, believed to live around 600 BC, who is believed by many to be the author of the book "Tao Te Ching", a fundamental text for both philosophical and religious Taoism.

“Those who know don’t talk. Those who talk don’t know. Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity. Be like the Tao. It can’t be approached or withdrawn from, benefited or harmed, honored or brought into disgrace. It gives itself up continually. That is why it endures.”

Tao Te Ching

Related Topic