People Who Know Little Are Usually Great Talkers

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 28 June 2025 " People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little." -Jean Jacques Rousseau The aforementioned observation of the French philosopher and writer Jean Jacques Rousseau is universally relevant because it provides a profound insight into the nature of knowledge and speech. Rousseau suggests that those who possess limited understanding tend to be more inclined towards being vocal and expressive, often exhibiting a tendency to dominate conversations with their verbosity. Conversely, individuals who possess extensive knowledge and truly understand the depth of their subject matter tend to be more cautious with their words, opting for concise and thoughtful responses. This quote serves as a reminder to value substance over mere quantity in speech, highlighting the importance of genuine understanding and perspective in effective communication. Profundity doesn't lie in being profuse in quantity. A truly wise person is always meaningfully taciturn and thoughtfully laconic. He weighs his words and speaks when it's indeed required. Theravada Buddhism 'Tripitaka' states that after enlightenment, Buddha spoke very little. Out of the eighty nine names of Buddha, there are two beautiful names to indicate his persona: Smithasya (a person with a beatific smile) and Mitshabdam (a man of a few words). It's said that Buddha conveyed his words more through his smile and silence than speech. Those who are wise, never advertise. Only those, who are frivolous, resort to tom-tomming. Why do politicians talk so much? Because they lack substance. 'Mere Apne Alfaaz Badhate Hain Aawaaz' (My own words add to the existing noise). Allama Iqbal's immortal words succinctly put the things in perspective. He (Iqbal) further wrote, "Iqbal Bada Updeshak Hai, Man Baaton Mein Moh Leta Hai/ Guftaar Ka Ye Ghazi Toh Bana, Kirdaar Ka Ghazi Ban Na Saka" (Iqbal is a good preacher, fascinates the heart in moments/ He did become hero in talk, but one in deeds he couldn't be). We live in a world of words. We require celestial silence of thoughts and musings. Look at the calmness of an ocean and the serenity of a garden. Just heaving majestic waves and the rustling of leaves speak so much. Moreover, they speak so eloquently. Words only increase the weight and fade into oblivion much faster than you expect them to. Brevity is an art very few can master. Verbosity is frivolity. To be taciturn is to earn; earn the respect of all you come across in the sojourn of life. Thoughtful and laconic communication is always much more important than mere vocalization. Rumi famously said, "Raise your words, not your voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder." The impact of our words comes from their substance and meaning, not from the volume or force with which they are delivered. Just as gentle rain nourishes plants, thoughtful and meaningful words cultivate positive change and understanding, while loud, empty pronouncements are as ineffective as thunder. The quality of communication depends upon the impactful words that are carefully chosen and contribute to growth and understanding, rather than mere noise. An Urdu poet aptly said, "Aqlamand Qatron Mein Apni Baat Kahta Hai/ Bewqoof Ki Baaton Mein Lafzon Ka Dariya Bahta Hai" (An intelligent person expresses himself in a few words/ A river of words flows when a fool speaks). Those who're truly wise are enigmatically silent, whereas oafs are emphatically vocal, voluble, verbose and vociferous. They're also vapid. Our political leaders, US President Trump and many other world leaders should pay heed to this sagacious piece of advice: Be laconic and eschew lush wordiness and empty verbiage. They'll be able to earn more respect from all quarters. ----- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/people-little-great-talkers/d/136011 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism