Home › Proverbs

Learn to say before you sing.

Meaning: Master the fundamentals of speech and communication before attempting public performance or eloquent expression.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Communication

  • Saying and doing are two things. — Words cost nothing, but actions require commitment, effort, and genuine intention to fulf…
  • If a man says little he thinks the more. — Silence often reflects deeper contemplation, while excessive speech betrays shallow reaso…
  • He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. — Inheriting wealth from birth grants unearned advantages that others must struggle to achi…
  • Better that the feet slip than the tongue. — A physical misstep heals quickly, but careless words cause lasting damage to relationship…
  • Spare to speak and spare to spend. — Restraint in both words and money preserves resources and prevents regrettable waste.
  • There is a time to speak as well as to be silent. — Knowing when to withhold words proves as valuable as knowing when to voice them.

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…