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Many words will not fill a bushel.

Meaning: Excessive talk produces nothing tangible; abundance of speech cannot substitute for concrete action or material results.

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

More proverbs about Communication

  • Soft words hurt not the mouth. — Gentle speech costs nothing to speak and risks no harm through careless words.
  • Wounds may heal, but not those made by ill words. — Physical injuries fade while harsh speech leaves permanent emotional scars impossible to…
  • A soft answer turneth away wrath. — Gentle speech disarms anger more effectively than harsh retaliation or defensive aggressi…
  • Say no ill of the year till it is passed. — Withhold judgment on circumstances until their full course concludes, as premature critic…
  • Believe well and have well. — Right conduct and virtuous living naturally produce good outcomes and contentment in life.
  • Drunken folk often speak truth. — Intoxication dissolves social filters, allowing suppressed honesty to surface uncensored.

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