> The wary guest, who comes to dine,
> stays silent, but strains his ears:
> all smart men find things out for themselves.
- A guest who keeps their wits about them knows to keep their mouth shut and ears open
- By speaking you may
- Betray intentions
- Offend
- Give unnecessary information (show your hand)
- By listening
- You can learn more about those in your midst by listening to what they say
- perhaps they do not hold their tongues and instead "Play their hand"
- And give more away than they should
- [[You learn more by listening than talking]]
- [[Meetings are best spent listening rather than talking]]
- The intelligent will find things out through their own methods
- Listening
- Observing
- And may not play their hand by simply asking directly
- They can gathering "intel" through less obvious means
- May also mean, they don't take other's words for granted and rely on first hand knowledge not here-say (Fact checking)
- This may protect against traps
- Being aware in this manner is more likely to alert the guest in advance to those who wish him harm
- It's always better to gather information than to be giving away information
- especially when you do not trust present company
- be a wary guest