A dumb priest never got a parish
Meaning: Silence and incompetence forfeit advancement; those unable to demonstrate ability through speech lose opportunities for leadership.
Origin: An Irish saying, recorded by P. W. Joyce in English as We Speak It in Ireland (1910): those who don't speak up for themselves don't get what they want. Joyce noted that a barrister, Serjeant Armstrong, had once quoted it to a jury in Wicklow.
More proverbs about Perseverance
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- Idle hands make work for the Devil — Unoccupied minds drift toward mischief; productive engagement prevents moral corruption.
- Ill-gotten gains never prosper — Money obtained through dishonesty ultimately fails to generate lasting wealth or security.
- Misfortunes never come alone — Troubles compound—when one disaster strikes, others typically follow in succession.
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