Don't talk unless you can improve the silence.

The line urges a discipline of speech: words should be offered only when they add clarity, truth, beauty, or kindness beyond what quiet already provides. It treats silence as a positive baseline—something with its own dignity—so speaking becomes an ethical and aesthetic act rather than a reflex. Read this way, the quote critiques idle chatter, empty rhetoric, and performative talk, recommending restraint and attentiveness. It also implies that listening and contemplation can be more valuable than asserting oneself, and that language, powerful as it is, can diminish experience when used carelessly. The standard it sets is high: speech should “improve” the moment, not merely fill it.