About this quote

Speaking less tends to make each remark count for more. When words are rationed, they get weighed first: the careless throwaway line and the thing you'd regret both get filtered out before they're ever said, leaving speech that is deliberate rather than reflexive.

When to use it

• A manager who listens through a whole meeting before offering one carefully chosen point.
• Not firing off an angry reply text and instead sending three measured sentences later.
• Choosing each word in a difficult performance review so nothing lands as careless.