ilence Is Golden. Why?

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

At the dinnertime discussions with his fiancée, Lady Angela of Alpine Castle, and his chief advisor, Professor Hamblin, the Baron wanted to know why silence was golden. He personally felt that silence was a bore.

Lady Angela said that good conversation was important in social skills and diplomacy. It was a sign of good family training to be able to speak well in society.

The Professor said that it was always important to think before speaking so as to avoid putting one’s foot in one’s mouth. Never talk yourself into a box where you have no face-saving way out.

The Baron remembered some kind words that his father gave him on the subject. “Always separate the topic from the person. While you may disagree with one particular opinion at this time, there may be hundreds of topics that you will basically agree on later.”

“Perhaps the person who thought up the statement about silence being golden was really trying to teach others that it is just as important to be a good listener as a good speaker,” observed Lady Angela.

The Professor concluded the dinnertime conversation with the importance of learning how to disagree without becoming a disagreeable person. “Respect the other person’s point of view because it may contain information that you did not know originally, and which you may find informative.”

After all, it is true that you learn more by listening than talking, so in that sense, silence is golden.