50. Silence and Honesty

Deios 2:5

Silence is a safeguard for wisdom. Therefore, one should not be quick to reply, nor should he speak at length. One should teach his students calmly, without shouting or verbosity. Regarding this, Koheles 9:17 says, “The words of the wise are heard in tranquility.”

Deios 2:6

A person is not permitted to act deceptively, saying one thing but secretly thinking another. Rather, his inside should be consistent with the face that he shows the world. What he feels in his heart should be the same as what comes out of his mouth. It is forbidden to deceive anyone, including non-Jews. For example, one may not sell a non-Jew meat that was not ritually slaughtered as if it were, nor a shoe made from the hide of an animal that died of natural causes as if it were the hide of a slaughtered animal. One may not press another person to come for a meal when he knows full well that the other person will decline the invitation. One may not try to give someone gifts when he knows that the other person will refuse them. One may not open casks of wine ostensibly for a guest, when he really must open it in order to sell it, in order to trick the guest into thinking that he’s doing it in his honor. The same is true in all similar such cases. It is forbidden to utter a single word of deception or trickery. Rather, a person must have only truthful speech and a heart free of deception.