A fool's tongue is long enough to cut his own throat.
"Let not the tongue say what the head shall pay for" (Spanish).[635] "The sheep that bleats is strangled by the wolf" (Italian).[636] "He that knows nothing knows enough if he knows how to be silent" (Italian).[637]
A fool's bolt is soon shot.
"A foolish judge passes quick sentence" (French).[638] "He who knows little soon sings it out" (Spanish).[639]
When a fool has spoken he has done all.
"It is always the worst wheel that creaks" (French, Italian).[640] The shallowest persons are the most loquacious. "Were fools silent they would pass for wise" (Dutch).[641]
Silence gives consent.
"Silence answers much" (Dutch).[642]
A man may hold his tongue in an ill time.
"Amyclæ was undone by silence" (Latin).[643] The citizens having been often frightened with false news of the enemy's coming, made it penal for any one to report such a thing in future. Hence, when the enemy did come indeed, they were surprised and taken. There is a time to speak as well as to be silent.