Sunday, March 8, 2015

Mussar: iThink - The Sounds of Silence (Avos 1:17)

Rav Hutt

There is an art in knowing what to say and how to say it, but it is a virtue to know what not to say.  Ideas constantly race through our minds.  We have opinions, perspectives, and emotional responses that are stimulated by the various experiences in our life.  Hopefully these thoughts are constructive, positive, useful ideas that when articulated to those around us, bring benefit to all.  However that is not always the case.  Sticks and stones can break people's bones, but words penetrate the soul.  Therefore, the secret of silence is surprisingly successful.  That feeling of biting the tongue, and using better judgment to not respond with insult or condescension, is a powerful expression of self-control – an admirable demonstration of free will.  Only man can chose to utter the sound of silence.  Perhaps instead of relating to silence as 'awkward' we can appreciate the virtue of silence.   

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