When Does Silence Cease to be a Virtue?
Silence is not always golden
The word ‘silence’ has both positive and negative meanings.
It’s a virtue when we mean ‘quiet,’ the absence of noise. Silence is not only good for our physical and mental well-being; it’s a spiritual sanctuary, where troubled souls and truth-seekers seek refuge.
Silence is also the inability and unwillingness to speak.
Silence often colludes with untruth and injustice.
Sometimes, people have no choice other than remaining silent. If you’re living in a communist dictatorship, your safety is directly linked to your silence. We can’t blame people for avoiding conflicts with a vastly superior and enormously powerful adversary.
What if people chose silence even when they had the freedom to speak?
Unspoken words are as consequential as spoken words.
We can apologise for spoken words and try to repair damaged relationships.
Lifelong regret is the price of ill-considered silence.
Speaking out is an act of courage. Sometimes, silence is tactical, not overly unethical.
Suppose you see the boss talking rudely to a fellow worker; you can't intervene directly. You can speak to them later…
