I came across this beautiful rhyme which was published in the year 1875. I couldn’t find the author but it gained the popularity later the 19th century during the world war. Some sources say as Parrot magazine and some as The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes by Iona and Peter Opie. While we don’t know exactly where it came from, the owl has always been a symbol of wisdom in many cultures. This is been known when John D. Rockefeller quoted this one.
Let me quote all the versions that I have
#Version 1
There was an owl liv'd in an oak
The more he heard, the less he spoke
The less he spoke, the more he heard.
O, if men were all like that wise bird
#Version 2
A wise old owl lived in an oak,
The more he saw, the less he spoke
The less he spoke, the more he heard,
Now, wasn't he a wise old bird?
#Version 3
A wise old owl lived in an oak,
The more he saw, the less he spoke;
The less he spoke, the more he heard;
Why can't we all be like that wise old bird?
Irrespective of versions, they convey the same meaning.
As the owl observes the world around him, he chose to speak less.
By speaking less, the owl was able to listen more carefully and take in more information. The more we understand, there is less need for speaking or offering opinions.
But, the wisdom comes from choosing the choice to observe and listen rather than speaking. Even, in the case of last version, a questioned is raised. Why don’t reflect on us and choose to listen than to speak.
In our busy world, where everyone has strong opinions, this old rhyme’s message is more important than ever. It teaches us that we often understand things better by watching and listening carefully, rather than by talking all the time.
Try this next time, you might be amazed at how much you learn by listening more and speaking less.
Cheers
Happy Weekend ahead!
PS: You can replace listen with read and speak with write.
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