The Wisdom of Silence for the Ignorant

There was a man of fine character but shabby clothes, who for a while lived silent in Egypt. The wise, from near and far, gathered around him like moths drawn to a flame. One night he reflected in his heart: a man stays hidden beneath his own tongue. If I keep my head bowed to myself like this, how will people know that I am learned? So he spoke, and friend and foe alike realized there was no one in Egypt more foolish than he. His standing collapsed, the matter turned ugly; he left town and wrote on the arch of the mosque: 'Had I seen myself in a mirror, I would not have torn the veil off my own ignorance. I exposed myself so shamefully only because I imagined my face was handsome.' The one who speaks little keeps a sharp reputation; once you have spoken, your luster has no escape. For you, master of intelligence, silence is dignity; for the unworthy, it is a covering veil. If you are learned, do not squander your gravity; if you are ignorant, do not rip off your own veil. Do not reveal the secret of your heart too quickly, for you can show it whenever you wish. But once a man's secret is out, no effort can hide it again. How well the pen kept the king's secret: it did not speak until the blade was at its head. Beasts are silent and humans can speak; better to hold your tongue than to speak for harm. When a person speaks, it must be with wisdom; otherwise, better to stay silent like the beasts. A human is known by speech and reason; do not be like a parrot that talks without understanding. By speech a human is better than the animals; but the animals are better than you if you do not speak the truth.