Silence is an ornament for women.
SophoclesRead
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Being eloquent while being incorrect can have serious consequences.
This quote by Sophocles emphasizes the importance of being truthful and accurate in our speech. It suggests that speaking eloquently is of little value if the content of what is being said is misguided or false, highlighting the ethical responsibility that comes with effective communication.
Themes
CommunicationTruthSpeechWisdomEthics
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate, one might quote this to stress the importance of factual accuracy.
More from Sophocles
All quotes βNone love the messenger who brings bad news.
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All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.
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Not even Ares battles against necessity.
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You clearly hate to yield, but you will regret it when your anger has passed. Such natures are justly the hardest for themselves to bear.
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There is nothing more hateful than bad advice.
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