One of the things I learned later in life is you are far better off to listen than speak out of turn and later realize you should’ve kept your month shut.

I had a hard time sitting still and being quiet at the same time when I was a kid being questioned about a wrongdoing by my parents, especially my mother.  “I would always speak up first, trying to cover up my guilt.  It didn’t matter; my mother could read my expression. She knew when I was guilty and would raise her index finger to her lips as a sign for me to hush up and be quiet. Her words of correction would follow and more often than not, I wasn’t listening carefully. Nevertheless, I knew I was guilty and would have to suffer the consequences.

How easy it is for words to pop out of your mouth without first measuring your thoughts and making sure an oral response is based on fact not fiction. Furthermore, it’s best to keep your opinions to yourself even though you’re asked to share them.

A case in point is the thoughtless response I gave to a question I was asked by a candidate for a municipal office several years ago.

I was interviewing a newcomer candidate for a city council position. He was well- known in town but lacked experience in public service. After I completed my questions and asked him if he wanted to add anything else, he asked ‘do you think I can win?’ No, I blurted out.

I had to eat those words a few weeks later when he was elected over two opponents by a sizeable margin. That’s not all, I had to eat those words every time I went to city hall to cover a city council meeting for the next four years.

A few yeas later I put the lesson to good use while campaigning for mayor. I asked thousands of voters for their vote and influence but never  once asked a voter if he or she thought I could win.

The same lesson came into play after I was elected to the office. I did a lot of praying, thinking and searching for the facts before going on public record. My policy was to prepare a timely news release on all newsworthy events, good or bad, affecting the city’s reputation. When the news media came calling, I had a copy of the news release waiting for them.

The world would be a better place if more people listened first before speaking out of turn.

Clif Knight is a staff writer for the Hartselle Enquirer.