Maturity Begins with Silence

Arthur Schopenhauer once said, “People, like hedgehogs in winter, suffer if they get too close and get cold if they stay too far.” In life, when it’s time to be silent, one must be silent, otherwise, you can never truly listen to the voice within. Reality is such that only those who understand the timing of silence and exercise restraint in expression can lead a more stable, grounded, and fortunate life.

Don’t live in the vanity of words.

Yi Shu once said, “A truly elegant lady never flaunts her possessions. She doesn’t tell people what books she’s read, where she’s been, how many clothes she has, or what jewelry she’s bought, because she doesn’t feel inferior. Similarly, truly wise people never flaunt their linguistic abilities. They don’t deliberately showcase their eloquence or rush to prove their points because they know that the vanity of words only makes them more restless and superficial.

Thoreau once said, “Excess wealth can only buy unnecessary things; the necessities of the soul, none of them require money.” Similarly, excess words can only bring unnecessary trouble; the tranquility of the soul doesn’t need to be obtained through words.We must learn to reject the vanity of words and dare to let go of our linguistic burdens, allowing ourselves to live awake while simultaneously shedding unnecessary linguistic vanity. Then, slowly move towards strength and independence.

Wise choices

Many people, because they speak too quickly and have too much temper, always rush to express their views and opinions in any situation in real life. They think they are insightful, eloquent, and have a presence, but in reality, they are too one-sided in their thinking. Just as Lao Tzu said in the “Tao Te Ching,” “Too many words lead to exhaustion; it’s better to hold the center.” Speaking too much often leads to one’s own predicament; it’s better to maintain silence and preserve the tranquility of the heart.

In real life, there are too many people who always live in their own world of words, always believing that their views are correct, and only their voices are worth hearing. Consequently, they make themselves noisy, superficial, and annoying. If you are always too concerned with your own expression, only believe in your own words and judgments, then you will surely be pushed away by more and more people. In life, when it’s time to be silent, just be silent. Don’t think too much, don’t worry too much.

In the “Cai Gen Tan,” there is a saying: “Out of ten words, nine are not necessarily remarkable; one miss in ten words is a collection of faults; out of ten plans, nine are not necessarily successful; one failure in ten plans brings forth numerous criticisms.”Even if you say nine out of ten things correctly, you might not necessarily be praised, but if you say one thing wrong, you will receive numerous criticisms; even if you succeed nine times out of ten in your plans, you might not necessarily receive credit, but if one plan fails, it will bring forth numerous criticisms.So, in many cases, silence is a wiser choice. We should not rush to express ourselves but first learn to listen and observe, and then, after truly understanding the full picture and essence of things, cautiously express our views.Don’t tire yourself out, nor become a slave to words. Many things cannot be solved through words alone.

We can only change ourselves, learn to be silent, think in silence, grow in silence, and become more mature and wise in silence.When it’s time to be silent, be silent. Don’t be impulsive with words due to personal emotions. Instead, learn to close your mouth, open the eyes of your soul, and see a deeper world.

Maturity begins with silence

In the movie “The Grandmaster,” there is a classic line: “In this world, some live for appearances, and some for substance. Only substance can win true appearances.” Similarly, in the world of words, some people live for the appearance of words, always eager to show themselves, pursuing the glory of words; while others live for the substance of words, understanding the value of silence and accumulating strength in silence. Truly wise people understand that silence is for better expression.

When we learn to be silent, we can better listen to the opinions and advice of others, draw nourishment from their experiences and wisdom, and continually enrich ourselves. We can also better recognize our shortcomings and mistakes and make timely adjustments and improvements. Then, while being silent, quietly move forward, and while accumulating strength, fulfill ourselves.

In life, silence is golden. Learning to be silent is not weakness, nor is it avoidance, but a kind of wisdom, courage, and realm. In this noisy world, let’s learn to be silent, maintain inner peace, listen to the voice of the soul, and use the power of silence to live our lives well.