“He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.”
Here are two ways to show yourself wise.
1. The first way is by controlling your tongue. The wise man uses his words sparingly, taking time to consider what to say before saying anything. When he does speak, the words have purpose. Never underestimate the power of silence. It is so powerful, that even a foolish person may be considered wise if he holds his tongue.
2. The second way is by having a “cool spirit”, i.e. not being given to anger but having a good temper. This is controlling your actions, or better, your reactions.
Of course, both ways of showing yourself wise are related. Indeed, find a man who controls his tongue, and you will usually find a man who controls his temper, and vise versa. Why is this? Because both require self-control and both require you to pause and think first.
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Related Scriptures: Proverbs 15:2; 16:32; James 3:4-10
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“A cool head with a warm heart is an admirable composition.” –Albert Barnes
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