silence is golden

silence is golden

Meaning

• it is often better to say nothing at all
• keeping your mouth shut is a great virtue
• peace and quiet is to be enjoyed

Example Sentences

1. Do not tell your mom that I broke her vase! Remember, silence is golden.
2. This will stay between us, right? Silence is golden.
3. My secretary is more than welcome to stay during the meeting, she won't betray your confidence. Silence is golden.
4. Are you still talking? It feels like it has been hours. Silence is golden.
5. “How did you manage to keep quiet when he asked you about his horrible play?” “I didn't say anything. My mom taught me that silence is golden.”
6. I love it when my kids are at school. Silence is golden.
7. We are going camping in the woods this weekend. There will be no one around for miles. Silence is golden.

Origin

The full idiom is “speech is silver, but silence is golden” meaning that words are important, but sometimes it is better to say nothing. The whole phrase is seldom used and the shortened version is now more well-known.

In 1831, the poet, Thomas Carlyle, translated it from German to English in his novel Sartor Resartus. In the novel, it reads as “Sprecfienistsilbern, Schweigenist golden meaning “Speech is silver, Silence is golden”