proverb · Words worth keeping
Wider ears and a shorter tongue.
Wider ears and a shorter tongue.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Listen more and speak with greater restraint. Giving other people room to explain can improve your understanding before you decide what contribution is useful.
Example
A meeting chair lets a newcomer finish describing a problem and asks one clarifying question before offering a solution.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The enlarged ears and shortened tongue are an imagined adjustment to habits of attention. The proverb encourages a person who speaks quickly or at length to make more room for listening. A pause can reveal information, a different perspective or a misunderstanding that an immediate reply would miss. It is not a demand for everyone to remain quiet or for some people to dominate the conversation unchallenged. The useful balance depends on the setting. Listening carefully can lead to a more precise response, a necessary question or a clear disagreement rather than simply producing fewer words for their own sake.
When to use it
Use it when a habit of talking is preventing genuine attention to other people.
Keep in mind
Listening does not require silence in the face of harm or surrendering a fair opportunity to contribute.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their 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
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English