Reflections with Dr. Esang Esitikot: Sometimes Silence is Not Golden

“Speech is silver, silence is golden,” declared Thomas Carlyle. However, Nadezhda Mandelstam confessed, “I decided it is better to scream. Silence is the real crime against humanity.” Let’s reflect on when not to maintain silence.

Do you know that silence is the solution to many problems and also the catalyst or nourishment for many problems? According to George Eliot, “Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us wordy evidence of the fact.” However, as excellent as silence may be, do you know there is nothing golden about maintaining silence when you need to speak, when your voice is necesary to right a wrong and when what you say will open doors of opportunities for someone who deserves such? Listen to John Mill: “Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing. He is not a good man who, without a protest, allows wrong to be committed in his name, and with the means which he helps to supply, because he will not trouble himself to use his mind on the subject.” According to Adrienne Rich, “Lying is done with words, and also with silence.” Robert Stevenson put same message this way: “The cruelest lies are often told in silence.” In Shannon Alder’s perspective, “Staying silent is like a slow growing cancer to the soul and a trait of a true coward. There is nothing intelligent about not standing up for yourself. You may not win every battle. However, everyone will at least know what you stood for—YOU.”

So, be sensitive and wise to know when to exchange silence with a speech. Know when silence is a virtue and when it becomes a vice. As Yevgeny Yevtushenko said, know that “When truth is replaced by silence, the silence is a lie.” When tempted to keep silent against your convictions, remind yourself of Audre Lorde’s experience: “I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.” Be conscious that many times silence speaks louder than words. As Laurie Anderson confesssed, “I have never heard a more eloquent silence.” So when the message your silence portrays is contrary to your conviction, it’s more golden to speak than to maintain silence.

As you step out this week, be silent as long as it’s golden and speak the moment speaking is more golden than silence. As Pythagoras counseled, “Be silent or let thy words be worth more than silence.” In deciding whether to speak or not, listen to Kamand Kojouri: “Always ask yourself: “What will happen if I say nothing?”

Dr. (Engr.) Esang Esitikot is a chemical engineer, an HSE professional, a public affairs analyst, marriage counsellor, youth mentor and volunteer lecturer at the Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, University of Uyo. He works for an international oil company and can be contacted via 08035103559 (Whatsapp only).