Socrates, the wise Greek Philosopher, said that the eloquence is, many times, a manner of false exaltation of that which is small and of diminishing that which is de facto big. The word can be ill-used, masqueraded and used for concealment. it is, therefore, that the wise always taught that if only we should speak something, when our words will be more valuable than our silence. The reason is simple: Our words have the power of constructing or destructing. They can generate peace, concord, comfort, consolation, but they can too generate hatred, resentment, anguish, sadness and many more. “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.” (Pr 17,28 NIV).
Silence is valuable, over all when we are in a difficult situation, when it is needed more to listen than to hear, but to think than to act, to meditate than to run. Both the word and silence reveal our being, our soul, that which is going on inside of us. Jesus said that the mouth speaks of that which the heart is full. (cf Lk 6:45) Enough to converse for some minutes with a person that we can know, his interior revealed in his words, gives the importance to know to hear the other with patience in order to be able to know the truth in his soul. Without this, we run the risk of labeling quickly a person with negative adjectives.
We know that the words are more powerful than cannons. The provoke revolutions, conversions and many other realities. “The debauched man sows discord, and the slanderer divides friends”
How much discord exists in our families and in our communities through the cause of gossip, calumny, injury, bad words! It is necessary to learn that when we error through our words, when they injure unjustly, the brother we have to have the sacred courage of going to them to ask pardon.
Our words should always be good, this is always generate the good will, the edification of the soul, consolation of the heart, necessary correction with charity, If not then it is better to be silent. St. Paul has a teaching needed over when and how to use the preciousness of the gift that God gives us that is the word: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ef 4, 29 NIV).
We error much with our words, but why?
In the first place because we are proud, we want soon to have the word in front of others, poorly we understand the problem or the subject and already we want to give our opinion, that many times is empty, insensitve, because it is immature and without reflection. Other times, we make a mistake because as we speak with “blood boiling” when the soul is agitated. I this hour, the greatness of the soul is in silencing itself, in countering anger in dominating the ego injured and seeking the strength in silence.
Speak with sincerity, react with good sense with without exalting and without rage and express your opinion with caution, after understanding well that which is in discussion. Many times, in our debates we are tired of seeing to many people speaking and few disposed to hear. The great men are those that open their mouth when the others already have nothing more to say. But, therefore, it is necessary to exercise will and it is neccessary within the grace of God because our nature alone does not contain itself.
God speaks to us in silence, when the agitation of the soul ends, when the soft breeze replaces the storm.
Felipe Aquino
Prof. Felipe Aquino, PH.D earned is degree in Mechanical Engineering through UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL PAULISTA of Brazil.
Translated from Portuguese