The Sound of Silence
Originally published on Rabbi Smason’s beehiiv on August 20, 2026.
Franklin Roosevelt complained that during White House receiving lines, no one really listened to what he said. To test his suspicion, he tried an experiment. As each guest shook his hand, F.D.R. murmured, “I murdered my grandmother.” Most people responded without missing a beat: “Wonderful!” “Keep up the good work.” “Bless you!”
Only at the very end of the line did someone actually hear him. The ambassador from Bolivia leaned in and whispered, “I’m sure she had it coming.”
Most of us could benefit from becoming better listeners. But listening is only one of the gifts silence has to offer. What other treasures can be found in silence?
✨3 Ideas
- Silence is more than the absence of noise
Many people think of silence as empty space — simply what remains when words disappear. However, wisdom isn’t measured only by what we say, but by what we choose not to say.
After spending a lifetime among thoughtful and accomplished people, one sage concluded that he had found nothing better for the body and soul than silence.
When angered by a political rival, Abraham Lincoln would write a blistering letter expressing his thoughts. Then he would place the letter in a drawer and never send it.
- **Why silence is difficult **
Within each of us is an ongoing struggle between the voice of the ego and the voice of the soul. We often feel compelled to react immediately — to defend ourselves, answer criticism, or have the last word.
**The voice of the soul invites us to listen, but the voice of the ego demands to be heard. **Careless words can strain a friendship or prevent us from hearing wisdom.
In a world filled with constant noise and endless commentary, the quiet voice within is easily drowned out.
- **Silence creates space for growth **
Benjamin Disraeli once advised a newly elected parliamentarian to spend his first six months listening rather than speaking. His point: listening helps us learn.
Leonardo da Vinci possessed a similar gift. In the midst of his work, he would often pause to observe and marvel at the world around him. Silence isn’t empty. It is the space where insight appears.
When we embrace moments of silence, we create space for contemplation, self-awareness, inner calm, and spiritual growth.
📜2 Quotes
“There is a time for every matter under heaven …a time to be silent and a time to speak.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1,7
“All profound things and emotions of things are preceded and attended by silence.” — _Herman Melville _
❓1 Question
When was the last time you let a question hang in the air without rushing to fill the void?
Although Calvin Coolidge served as US President during the Roaring Twenties, he was hardly a man of a ‘roaring personality.’ A young woman sitting next to “Silent Cal” (as he was known) at a dinner party bet him she could get at least three words of conversation from him. Without looking at her he quietly responded, “You lose.”
Behind the humor of Coolidge’s reply lies a timeless truth. In a world that often rewards the loudest voice, silence remains one of life’s most overlooked treasures.
Sometimes the most powerful thing we have to say is nothing at all.
Until next time, Wishing you a week of making room for the quiet voice of the soul,
Rabbi Ze’ev Smason
P.S. How does a conversation change when people pause to listen before responding?
P.P.S. If this week’s _Spiritual Sparks _resonated with you, please consider forwarding it to a friend or family member who might also enjoy it.