It's a dangerous thing to mistake speaking without thought for speaking the truth.
- Benoit Blanc, The Glass Onion
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I've enjoyed both Benoit Blanc mysteries: Knives Out and more recently, The Glass Onion. (If you haven't already seen them, watch once for the surprise plot twists, then watch again to catch the subtle gaps you missed the first time.)
One exchange particularly stood out to me in this newer mystery. It was when Detective Blanc cautions Birdie Jay (played by Kate Hudson) after she glibly praises herself for her cutting edged truth-telling.
Birdie Jay: I'm a truth teller. Some people can't handle it.
Benoit Blanc: It's a dangerous thing to mistake speaking without thought for speaking the truth. Don't you think?
Both times I watched, this line impressed me. So many heated conversations and nasty social media comments could be avoided if society adhered to this succinct wisdom when communicating. Maybe we all need a Benoit Blanc reminder: speak with thought and with truth.
Not everything that comes across our mind needs to be said. It's wisdom to know when to speak and when to hold our tongue. Certainly, our goal is to tell the truth, but it should also be to speak with love, thoughtfully consider the well-being of others.
As for speaking stupidly but excusing it with the guise that we're just telling the truth? I imagine Blanc shaking his head, remind us of this:
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