Chase The Kangaroo

Listening More in a World That Talks Too Much

“Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

When I began focusing on the virtue of Silence this week, a few questions immediately came to mind:

1. When do I actually practice silence? Is it first thing in the morning when I wake up?
2. How do I practice silence? Do I go quiet all day or all week?
3. What does silence even look like? Is it an attitude, a discipline, or a posture?

What Did Franklin Mean by “Silence”?

Franklin wasn’t simply promoting introversion or quietness. Silence, for him, meant speaking with intention. He believed careless talk was wasteful and distracting. It could be just as damaging to personal discipline as gluttony or idleness. Silence created space for learning, discernment, and efficient action.

“Much talk, much error. The better part of valor is discretion.”
~ Benjamin Franklin

Silence helped sharpen the mind by cutting through the noise. It allowed a person to think more clearly and speak more wisely.

A Noisy World and a Quieter Start

You might be thinking you’d gladly practice silence and wish others would too. We live in an incredibly noisy world. Many of us wake up and immediately turn something on—music, the news, a podcast—or we’re greeted by our kids or spouse. Actually, the first thing most of us do is check our phones. Before our feet even hit the floor, we are already absorbing a flood of external input.

Franklin would be astounded by how much noise we deal with every day. Emails, texts, robocalls, notifications, advertisements, meetings, project demands, social media, family responsibilities—the list is endless.

In Franklin’s time, he didn’t face a fraction of the distractions we now consider normal. Yet even then, he recognized how critical silence was. How much more do we need this virtue today?

Franklin’s life reflected the power of focused living. He became a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, printer, publisher, and political philosopher. He wasn’t perfect, but he was consistent. And that consistency was built on clarity, discipline, and restraint. To accomplish all that he did, he created space for those things.

The Conversations That Matter

Think about the conversations you had this past week. Meetings that drifted off-topic. Side conversations with coworkers. Harmless small talk. These aren’t necessarily wrong, but they can easily turn into distractions.

Do we speak to fill space, to be noticed, or to one-up someone else’s story?

The virtue of silence challenges us to speak more intentionally. It invites us to listen better and respond with care. Silence has the power to deepen relationships and add meaning to everyday conversations.

Wisdom from the Ancients

The Stoics, especially Epictetus and Seneca, were firm on the discipline of speech.

“Let silence be your general rule; or say only what is necessary and in few words.”
~ Epictetus

“No man can live a happy life, or even a supportable life, without the study of wisdom… and wisdom begins with listening.”
~ Seneca

Scripture echoes this idea as well. Silence is described as humility, self-control, and wisdom in action.

“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent.”
~ King Solomon

“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” ~ King Solomon

“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
~ Apostle James

Today we live in a culture driven by social media, news feeds, and fast takes. Franklin’s caution against “trifling conversation” is more relevant than ever. The problem is not just what we say, but how much we say, how often we say it, and why.

My Experience with Silence

Practicing silence wasn’t easy. But I started to see progress when I looked back at certain conversations and asked myself: Did I speak with care? Was I really listening, or was I just waiting to talk?

That small shift from speaking to thinking about speaking, felt like progress. Silence began to shape my awareness.

Want to Try It? Start Here.

If you’re looking to practice silence more intentionally, here are some practical areas you can focus on this week.

Practicing Silence This Week

Area	Practice
Conversations	Pause before replying. Ask yourself: Is this helpful? Is it necessary?
Meetings	Let others speak first. Don’t interrupt. Observe what goes unsaid.
Digital Life	Turn off non-essential notifications. Try a half-day digital fast.
Mornings	Begin the day with 5 minutes of silence – no phone, no audio, just presence.
Commute or Walks	Replace noise with silence. Pay attention to your environment and breath.
Evening Review	Reflect on when you listened well and when you could have said less.
Prayer or Meditation	Sit quietly. Do not fill the space. Let silence speak.

In Closing

Silence is not just the absence of noise. It is the presence of attention. It creates room for thought, humility, and clarity.

In silence, we do not lose our voice. We find it.

Franklin’s Virtue Series