Speech is human, silence is divine, yet also brutish and dead therefore we must learn both arts.

Summary

This quote suggests that speech is a distinctly human quality, while silence is often associated with a higher, divine existence. However, relying solely on either speech or silence can be limiting. Speech has the potential to be crude and lifeless without the understanding of when to remain silent. On the other hand, being perpetually silent can also be seen as brutish if one fails to communicate effectively. Therefore, the quote advocates for acquiring the skill of utilizing both speech and silence, as they are equally important in navigating human interactions.