He who speaks much makes many mistakes. Excess of words is a source of error, exposure, and danger. The disciplined person speaks little and chooses each word carefully; the reckless person reveals too much through the sheer volume of their speech.
Sicilian culture developed a profound respect for silence as a survival strategy. In environments where a careless word could start a blood feud, betray a confidence to an enemy, or reveal information useful to those who wished you harm, economy of speech was not reticence but wisdom. The proverb is almost a mathematical observation: more output means more chance of error. But it also reflects the social function of restraint — the person who speaks little is harder to read, harder to manipulate, and harder to accuse. Sicilian elders were renowned for their measured use of words. Young people who spoke too freely — especially in front of strangers — were corrected with exactly this proverb. It also applies to practical contexts: negotiations, disputes, legal matters, where saying too much was always more dangerous than saying too little.
Fundamental to the Sicilian culture of silence and omertà in its broader sense; closely related to proverbs about the danger of loose speech across all Mediterranean cultures.
Advising a young man before a difficult meeting
In quella riunione rispondi solo a quello che ti chiedono. Cu parra assai sbagghia assai — non riempire i silenzi.
In that meeting answer only what you are asked. He who speaks much makes many mistakes — do not fill the silences.
A grandfather rebuking a grandson who revealed family business
Perché gli hai detto di quello che ha fatto tuo padre? Cu parra assai sbagghia assai. Certe cose si tengono in casa.
Why did you tell him about what your father did? He who speaks much makes many mistakes. Some things are kept at home.
Reflecting on someone who talked themselves into trouble
Ha parlato per un'ora davanti all'avvocato. Alla fine si era accusato da solo. Cu parra assai sbagghia assai — doveva stare zitto.
He spoke for an hour in front of the lawyer. In the end he had accused himself. He who speaks much makes many mistakes — he should have stayed silent.
Praising a diplomatic colleague
In tutta la riunione ha detto solo tre cose, ma tutte giuste e al momento giusto. Cu parra assai sbagghia assai — lei ha capito come funziona.
In the whole meeting she said only three things, but all right and at the right moment. He who speaks much makes many mistakes — she has understood how it works.