“Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint.”
Banksy pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, and painter
Source: Wall and Piece
Source: Going Postal
“Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint.”
Banksy pseudonymous England-based graffiti artist, political activist, and painter
Source: Wall and Piece
“Speak more softly to be better heard by a deaf public.”
Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French moralist and essayist
“Sometimes we will speak softly and carry a large Javelin.”
Joe Biden (1942) 47th Vice President of the United States (in office from 2009 to 2017)
Source: President Biden says on new aid to Ukraine, putting a twist on Roosevelt's phrase.
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, 26th president of the United States
1900s, The Strenuous Life: Essays and Addresses (1900), National Duties
Context: Right here let me make as vigorous a plea as I know how in favor of saying nothing that we do not mean, and of acting without hesitation up to whatever we say. A good many of you are probably acquainted with the old proverb: "Speak softly and carry a big stick—you will go far." If a man continually blusters, if he lacks civility, a big stick will not save him from trouble; and neither will speaking softly avail, if back of the softness there does not lie strength, power.
“Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far.”
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, 26th president of the United States
“the voice of beauty speaks softly; it creeps only into the most fully awakened souls”
Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German philosopher, poet, composer, cultural critic, and classical philologist
Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, 26th president of the United States
Ch. XV : The Peace of Righteousness http://books.google.com/books?id=Io4fAAAAIAAJ&q=%22The+only+safe+rule+is+to+promise+little+and+faithfully+to+keep+every+promise+to+speak+softly+and+carry+a+big+stick%22&pg=PA537#v=onepage <br class="br">1910s, Theodore Roosevelt — An Autobiography (1913)
“If people could treat others as though they were speaking face to face, that would be huge.”
Jimmy Wales (1966) Wikipedia co-founder and American Internet entrepreneur
As quoted in "The Encyclopedist’s Lair" in The New York Times (19 November 2007)
Context: There’s plenty of rude stuff online. People say things online that they would be ashamed to say face to face. If people could treat others as though they were speaking face to face, that would be huge.