proverb · Words worth keeping
If one cannot speak well, one should not speak at all.
If one cannot speak well, one should not speak at all.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Speaking not well enough then not at all makes expression conditional on an imposed standard. The saying prioritises polished communication through an absolute restriction.
What the words are saying
A critical reading rejects fluency, accent or disability as grounds for excluding a voice. A useful application improves clarity and access without silencing learners or necessary concerns. Imperfect expression can still convey relevant evidence, and agreeable delivery does not guarantee truth.
Everyday example
Someone makes room for clarification instead of excluding a participant whose expression is unfamiliar.
When to use it
Use it critically to improve access without imposing silence.
What it does not mean
No right to silence a person or worth ranking by speaking style is established.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference (2014 AD)
Supplied reference B; unit 936; PDF page 82; collection label: Transylvania Province of Romania
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- Transylvania Province of Romania