Eloquent Silence.

The power of preserving silence is the very first requisite to all who wish to shine, or even please in discourse; and those who cannot preserve it, have really no business to speak. … The silence that, without any deferential air, listens with polite attention, is more flattering than compliments, and more frequently broken for the purpose of encouraging others to speak, than to display the listener’s own powers. This is the really eloquent silence. It requires great genius—more perhaps than speaking—and few are gifted with the talent.

Arthur Martine

Monks observe two types of silences:

Day silence - between 8am and 8pm when they avoid frivolous conversation.

The Great Silence - between 8pm and 8am when they avoid all conversation.

Monks are listening to hear God.

Not because He rarely speaks - because He’s always speaking.

But we don’t hear because we’re not listening.

With all the training in leadership - who is teaching us the ‘gifted talent’ of silence?