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DISCRETION IS THE BETTER
PART OF SPEECH A Dew drop has hardly any beauty of its own; but when seen against the background of the lotus leaf, a dew drop derives a new beauty-it looks like a glistening pearl. So it is with speech and action; a word or a deed touched with discretion increases in worth.
You may have made the most painstaking preparations for receiving a guest, you may have thought of all possible ways to promote his comfort, but one indiscreet word can easily bring to nought all your pains. Most people are aware of the value of discretion, and yet we come across many a man who feels disappointed at his failure to please others, just because of the lack of discretion.
Religious festivals, social activities, national revolution, even 'spiritual contemplation-all these demand discretion. All these activities become like 'à lake drained of water, when they lack discretion. A man of discretion can mould his speech or deed to suit any occasion. An indiscreet deed is like a flower without fragrance.
That is why men of discretion give more weight to significant deeds than to blustering words. Every deed that they accomplish breathes out a fragrance of its own, and this fragrance speaks for itself, putting to shame man's foolish words.
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