When you are trying and impress people with words, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make in vague, open ended, and sphinx-like. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.
In the court of Louis the XIV, there were often long and involved heated debates about various issues. Eventually two ministers would be chosen to take the debate to Louis himself. They would at times take days and weeks preparing their side of the argument. After Louis had heard both sides of the debate, he would simply say, "I shall see." Then Louis would say nothing more on the subject. After some time would pass the ministers and courtiers would simply see that some action had happened.
Louis the XIV was a man of few words and all the more powerful because of it.
In life, there are those who appear to be average and those who seem to always speak with the wisdom of the ages. Often times it is only a matter of how and when they choose to speak. Try and only comment when you have something to say. If you are stating the painfully obvious then try to do so in a manner which leaves the listener wondering if you are speaking to them on some higher level.
When I used to do extra work (in movies and TV shows), I would usually take a book with me and kinda sit off to the side and read. At the same time I'd be keeping tabs on the conversations around me (you never can really get to much privacy on a set). When something would pop up that I had personal knowledge concerning , I'd pop into the conversation (unless it seemed more private, you can tell) and give my input. After awhile people kept including me in their conversations just to hear if I had something to say.
There are few times when talking a lot is to your advantage in the long term. There may be a situational advantage but even that is a short term gain with little or no long term effect. At times I have found myself on this end of the spectrum as well. I have said more then necessary. After a while people would just ignore what i had to say because they would think of me as a "know-it-all".
"Oysters open completely when the moon is full; and when the crab sees one it throws a piece of stone or seaweed into it and the oyster cannot close again so that it serves the crab as meat. Such is the fate of him who opens his mouth too much and thereby puts himself at the mercy of the listener."
~Leonardo di Vinci
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