# CCIX explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ambrose Bierce.

## What happens

A brief aphorism about the wisdom of silence and the perceptiveness of the wise, who can hear the unspoken command in a fool's noise.

## Key lines

> A fool's tongue is not so noisy but the wise can hear his ear commanding them to silence.

Even a fool's loud speech contains an implicit plea for quiet, which the wise recognize.

_The chapter reflects on the contrast between foolish noise and wise perception._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters/ccix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_se/chapters