I Fear a Man of Frugal Speech

I Fear a Man of Frugal Speech - meaning Summary

Silence as Concealed Power

The speaker distinguishes types of men by speech and expresses apprehension toward the most reserved. Haranguers and babblers can be managed or entertained, but a man who measures his words while others squander theirs seems formidable. The poem frames silence and verbal restraint as signs of latent authority, self-command, and potential grandeur, prompting wary respect rather than simple dislike.