“Human nature is, by definition, a talkative one, imprudent, indiscreet, gossipy, incapable of closing its mouth and keeping it closed.”

—  José Saramago, book The Cave

Source: The Cave (2000), p. 117(vintage 2003)

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update Oct. 2, 2023. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Human nature is, by definition, a talkative one, imprudent, indiscreet, gossipy, incapable of closing its mouth and kee…" by José Saramago?
José Saramago photo
José Saramago138
Portuguese writer and recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in … 1922–2010

Related quotes

Roberto Clemente photo

“In other years, we talk pennant with mouth, do nothing on field. This year we do our talking on field, keep mouths closed about pennant.”

Roberto Clemente (1934–1972) Puerto Rican baseball player

As quoted in "The Scoreboard" by Les Biederman, in The Pittsburgh Press (August 13, 1960), p. 6
Baseball-related, <big><big>1960s</big></big>

“The greatest sermons are the ones given with a closed mouth and an open heart.”

Steve Maraboli (1975)

Source: Life, the Truth, and Being Free (2010), p. 135

Dave Barry photo

“If, when you talk to people, they keep backing away from you, it's because you're TOO CLOSE, alright? SO DON'T KEEP ADVANCING ON THEM LIKE A HUMAN GLACIER.”

Dave Barry (1947) American writer

Miguel de Cervantes photo

“A close mouth catches no flies.”

Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright

Source: Don Quixote de la Mancha (1605–1615), Part I, Book III, Ch. 11.

“If he could read a line, just understand one sign. Close his mouth and hear the peace of hope and fear, if he could read a line. If he could keep in time.”

Dawud Wharnsby (1972) Canadian musician

"The Poets"
The Poets And The Prophet (2006)

Paulo Coelho photo

“When mouths close, it’s because there’s something important to be said.”

Paulo Coelho (1947) Brazilian lyricist and novelist

Source: The Witch Of Portobello

“… Bringing the very heavens close enough to touch.
It was Zsadist.
His eyes closed, his head back, his mouth wide open, he sang.
The scarred one, the souless one, had the voice of an angel.”

Jessica Bird book Dark Lover

Source: Dark Lover

Harper Lee photo

“In Maycomb, if one went for a walk with no definite purpose in mind, it was correct to believe one's mind incapable of definite purpose.”

Harper Lee book To Kill a Mockingbird

Source: To Kill a Mockingbird

Jonas Salk photo

“My attitude was always to keep open, to keep scanning. I think that's how things work in nature. Many people are close-minded, rigid, and that's not my inclination.”

Jonas Salk (1914–1995) Inventor of polio vaccine

Academy of Achievement interview (1991)

“The sane understand that human beings are incapable of sustaining conspiracies on a grand scale, because some of our most defining qualities as a species are inattention to detail, a tendency to panic, and an inability to keep our mouths shut.”

Dean Koontz book Fear Nothing

Source: Fear Nothing (1998), Chapter 17; musings of Christopher Snow

Related topics