Even fools who keep silent are considered wise; when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent—establishing that the appearance of wisdom can be achieved through silence even without its reality. This striking verse suggests that refraining from speech is itself so associated with wisdom that even a fool gains the semblance of understanding by remaining quiet. The irony suggests both that fools reveal themselves through speech and that preservation of silence, even motivated by lack of understanding, produces an appearance of wisdom. This verse warns the wise against overestimating the insights of the taciturn and cautions the foolish that silence provides no genuine wisdom if understanding is absent.

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