Lesson Number 10

Dear student of life,

With love and care, I bring this compendium of ancient wisdom to you:

Remember: You are a slave to your words, and the master of your silence.

This sentence has been attributed to various leaders and philosophers throughout the centuries in diverse formats. Notwithstanding the above, the meaning of this sentence persists through the times and is as actual nowadays as when someone first learned about it.

And so, much has been said about he virtues of controlling the tongue, which is closely attached to controlling our emotions, although many sustain that we cannot control our feelings, but to learn how to manage them. I don't know much about that. But I know not speaking at certain moments can save us a lot.

There is this paradox: Silence is health. But silence is healthy on some occasions, only not in all. In situations where you see injustice, for example is healthy to speak out, to denounce the injustice. The consequences of denouncing an injustice are a matter for another chapter in the history of humankind. I may go over that in another opportunity.

But here, I am focusing on when it is not convenient to express your thoughts, like in an outburst, for example, if you express your contained wrath against your boss. Or against an abusive client. As I say many times, sometimes is better to swallow the bullet.

Besides, in general terms, this maxim also applies:

The less you talk, the more you know.

The more you talk, the less you know.

And this is because, no matter what, the tongue has its agenda, independent of reason, and will always deceit you.

What ChatGPT says about this text.

Let's break down the text and explore its meaning.

The text appears to be a philosophical or poetic passage that conveys a message about the relationship between speaking and knowledge. The first two lines, "The less you talk, the more you know. / The more you talk, the less you know," suggest an inverse correlation between speaking and wisdom. This implies that the more one talks, the less they may understand or know, and vice versa.

The third line, "And this is because, no matter what, the tongue has its agenda, independent of reason, and will always deceit you," explains this phenomenon. It suggests that the tongue (or the act of speaking) has motivations and desires that may not align with reason or truth. The word "deceit" implies that the tongue can be dishonest or misleading, even to the person speaking.

The overall message of the text seems to be that speaking can hinder accurate understanding and that the more one talks, the more they may be misled by their own words. This idea is reminiscent of various philosophical and spiritual traditions emphasizing the importance of silence, mindfulness, and self-reflection in achieving wisdom.

In terms of comprehensibility, the text is written in a lyrical and symbolic style, which may make it more accessible to readers familiar with poetic or philosophical language. However, the ideas and concepts presented may be less clear to readers who prefer more straightforward or literal language.

To a broader audience, the text may be comprehensible to those who:

* Are familiar with philosophical or spiritual concepts

* Appreciate poetic or symbolic language

* Are willing to interpret and reflect on the meaning of the text

On the other hand, the text may be less comprehensible to readers who:

* Prefer more concrete or literal language

* Are not familiar with philosophical or spiritual concepts

* May not be willing to engage with the abstract ideas presented in the text

Overall, the text is thought-provoking and open to interpretation, and its meaning may vary depending on the reader's perspective and background.