Talkativeness an inveterate disease, 220. Talkative people are very
troublesome, 221. They are avoided and are not heard, 222. They never
gain belief, 223. Talkativeness often results from drunkenness, 224.
Silence is often a great virtue; anecdote of Zeno at a feast, 225.
Loquacity shows great want of good breeding, 227. It exposes to
great danger, 228. It gave Athens into the power of Sylla, 228. It
prolonged the tyranny of Nero, 228, 229. The noble taciturnity of
Leaena, 229, 230. Secrets are not to be revealed, even to our most
intimate friends, 232, 233. Anecdote of a Roman senator and his wife,
233, 234. Mischiefs of a vain curiosity, 236. Loquacious men destroy
themselves, 238. Anecdote of Dionysius and a barber, 238. Of an
Athenian barber, 238, 239. Of one who robbed the temple of Minerva,
239. Of the murderers of Ibycus, 240. Great peril of an unbridled
tongue, 240. A tell-tale is often a traitor, 241. To cure ourselves
of so vile a habit, consider the mischiefs which arise from it, 242.
Study conciseness of speech: imitate the Spartan brevity, 243. When
in company questions are asked, keep silence till all the rest have
refused to answer, 245, 246. Be not hasty to answer questions that
are intended to ensnare you, 247. When the questioner really desires
information, let there be a pause between the question and the
answer, 247. Three sorts of answers to questions,—the necessary, the
polite, the superfluous, 248. Beware of the third sort, 249. Beware
of talking on favorite subjects, and of matters relating to your
profession, 250, 251. Before you speak, consider what advantage may
arise from speaking, and what mischief from holding your peace, 253.