Silence is not golden
when it must be broken;
when it ought not to exist.
To deny praise to a child,
for fear of spoiling him.
To withhold best wishes from someone,
of whom you are jealous.
To keep back from contradicting,
those others spreading malicious lies.
To decline to give advice,
for fear of being drawn into the maelstrom.
To refuse to give witness in favour of a victim,
for fear of being drawn into the problem.
To refrain from praising an underling,
lest you be thought weak.
All this creates a deafening silence.
Help me to know that there is a time to speak.