Clam Up!

Pro 17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

It is better to keep your tongue and not be thought of as a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

There was an old movie in which a corporate CEO went missing and another man, who was his double, was asked to attend a meeting for him to negotiate a deal. He was instructed to say as little as possible.

He followed those instructions and more. The buyers offered a million bucks for a division of the company and he just sat there with his hands fashioned into a tent under his chin, offering a simple, “Hmm.” So the buyers put their heads together and came back with an offer of $1.3 million. Again, they met with a stolid response of a concerned "hmm."

Again, they consorted among themselves and threw an offer of a million and a half at the faux CEO. Again, he responded with his usual, "hmm." Finally, after a private meeting, they made their ultimate offer of $1.8 million. "You are a very astute and shrewd business man" they observed.

Little did they know, he had no business acumen whatsoever. His silence caused the associates to think of him as a very wise man.

I think of all the times I could have said a lot less and accomplished so much more.

Well, I'll stop now before I write something foolish. :<)