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Such a powerful quote by Martin Luther King talking about responsibility, communication and our actions. You are not only responsible for what you say but also for what you do not say! We all think that communication is about what we say, but that’s not always true. Sometimes, our silence speaks more powerfully than our words. If we decide to stay silent about things that matter or right things – then we are supporting the wrong thing. Silence about the wrong things supports them. It doesn’t need an activist to tell us what is right. We all know deep down what is right, but we don’t act or speak up because we are afraid.

You are not only responsible for what you say but also for what you do not say

We can either choose to say something or not, but what we’re trying to say matters. This too is a responsibility – whether we decide to speak up about unfairness, bullying or even the nice things in society – we are making a statement.

Who said You are not only responsible for what you say

This powerful quote is by Martin Luther King that asks us to look within ourselves and identify our values. There are so many things that happen around us. We are responsible for what we say about these things. However, sometimes, we decide to stay quiet either because or fear. Or maybe we think that it is someone else’s business. But the society is not going to change with our silence.

The wrong things feel that they are supported because we decide to evade responsibility. Instead, if we decide to act on what our mind says, we have a chance to improve this world and make a difference. It is never easy to stand up and point out what you think. You will immediately risk judgment from people and your peers. But this judgment is too small compared to the risk of not being yourself. You are a powerful source of emotions and expression. Maybe people will not agree with what you say, but you can at least make them think. Or if you’re wrong, this allows setting things right.

Meaning of You are not only responsible for what you say but also for what you do not say

Communication is a strange one, isn’t it? Sometimes we say that it is all about listening whereas other times it is all about talking. Achieving a middle ground is never easy. But, if you focus on the aim of communication – it is about the meeting of minds. We all have a voice, no matter how loud or quiet it is – it still is a voice. This voice keeps telling us something.

It is our responsibility to find a channel for this voice. It need not only be about vocally making a statement but could be writing or organising a movement around it. Ultimately, the voice is about a message your emotions are conveying to you. The only fair thing to do is to listen to these messages and do something about them. You may recall a beautiful quote by Moliere – It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible. The essence of this quote and its meaning is also the same. You are not only responsible for what you say but also for what you do not say.