There's a sly recognition here that restraint isn't mere passivity—it's an active choice requiring intelligence. Durant observes that doing nothing often proves wiser than the flurry of action we feel compelled toward, yet he goes further by noting that *saying* nothing carries its own social grace, a kind of eloquent silence that marks someone as thoughtful rather than merely tongue-tied. The real bite comes from separating these two: you might stay silent when inaction would actually be foolish, because knowing when to hold your tongue is simply good manners. Watch any contentious family dinner and you'll see this played out—the wisest person there isn't necessarily the one with solutions, but the one who recognizes that sometimes the kindest and cleverest thing is to let others have the last word.