Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt

Meaning: Staying quiet is often wiser than speaking and confirming your ignorance.

Origin: Attributed to Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain; the sentiment echoes Proverbs 17:28.

Translations

• French: Mieux vaut se taire et passer pour un idiot que de parler et en lever tout doute (literally: Better to keep quiet and seem a fool than to speak and remove all doubt)
• Spanish: Mejor guardar silencio y que te crean tonto, que hablar y confirmarlo (literally: Better to keep quiet and be thought a fool than to speak and confirm it)
• Japanese: 黙って賢者と思われる方が、口を開いて愚者と証明するよりましだ (Damatte kenja to omowareru hō ga, kuchi wo hirate gūsha to shōmei suru yori mashi da) (literally: It is better to be silent and thought wise than to open your mouth and prove you're a fool)

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