Great Talkers are not always the Greatest Doers, and the Danger is
Greatest, where there’s least Blustering and Clamour.
Much Tongue, and much Judgment seldom go together, for Talking and
Thinking are Two Quite Differing Faculties, and there’s commonly more
Depth where there’s Less Noise. We find it to be Thus Betwixt your
Superficial Men, and Men that are well Founded in Any Art, Science, or
Profession. As in Philosophy, Divinity, Arms, History, Manners. The very
Practice of Babbling is a Great Weakness, and not only the Humour, but
the Matter shews it so; though upon the Main, it is not Capable either
of Much Good, or of Much Evil; for as there’s No Trusting in the Case,
so there’s No Great Danger from them, in the Manage of any Design; for
Many and Rash Words Betray the Speaker of them. As to the Man of Silence
and Reserve, that keeps himself Close, and his Thoughts Private, He
Weighs, and Compares Things, and Proceeds upon Deliberation. It is good
to see and sound however, before a Man Plunges; for a Body may as well be
Over-born by the Violence of a Shallow, Rapid Stream, as Swallow’d up in
the Gulph of a smooth Water. ’Tis in This Case with _Men_ as ’tis with
_Rivers_.