Say little but say it well.
Note: Sometimes you will see this proverb in a contracted form, “Beagán, agus a rá go maith.” Others have conveyed the meaning of this seanfhocal better than we can.
- “Is le barr baoise a osclaíonn Iób a bhéal, Agus le teann aineolais a labhraíonn sé chomh fadálach sin.” – An Bíobla Níofa, Leabhar Iób, 35:16. (Yet Job to no purpose opens his mouth, and without knowledge multiplies words.)
- “Brevity is the soul of wit.” – Shakespeare, Hamlet Act II, Scene ii, Verse 97 [circa 1600].
- “Words are like leaves; and where they most abound, Much fruit of sense is rarely found.” – Alexander Pope, The Temple of Fame, line 109 [1711].
- “Here comes the orator! with his flood of words and drop of reason.” – Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanac, October [1733].
- “Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving in words evidence of the fact.” – George Eliot, Daniel Deronda Book IV, Chapter 31 [1876].
- “Brevity is the soul of lingerie.” – Dorothy Parker [1893 – 1967].
Dá bhrí sin, éistimid ár mbéala, sula mbeidh amaidí ar fad orainn.
