It Will Be Heard

One of the statements of Hillel in Ancestors' Chapters [of Ethics] is:

אל תאמר דבר שאי אפשר לשמוע שסופו להישמע

I always understood this to mean:

Do not say something that cannot be heard —
for in the end, it will be heard!

In other words, stay away from passing on secrets. If you don't want something to be known, don't say it. "Loose lips sink ships." Or as Qohelet said:

גַּם בְּמַדָּעֲךָ מֶלֶךְ אַל תְּקַלֵּל
וּבְחַדְרֵי מִשְׁכָּבְךָ אַל תְּקַלֵּל עָשִׁיר
כִּי עוֹף הַשָּׁמַיִם יוֹלִיךְ אֶת הַקּוֹל
וּבַעַל כְּנָפַיִם יַגֵּיד דָּבָר

Even in your mind, do not curse a king;
and in your bedroom do not curse the rich —
for a bird of the heavens will carry the sound,
and a wingèd creature will tell the matter.


But now I just checked out Emet/Truth's post on Rambam on Incorporeality, which includes a translation that goes as follows:

Do not make a statement that cannot be easily understood
on the ground that it will be understood eventually.

Now, this translation fits better with the text as found at the Mechon Mamre link above, which has וסופו להישמע ("and its end [is] to be heard"), as opposed to the version I've usually seen, שסופו להישמע ("that its end [is] to be heard"). A completely different meaning — not a warning that "loose lips sink ships," but instead a pedagogical point relevant to everyone, but especially to teachers, rabbis, scholars and public officials. Never assume comprehension on the part of your audience. In the educational sphere, we call this the necessity for formative assessment. As you go through your lesson plan, you need to make sure that the students are right there with you and haven't been left behind. Similarly with a speech, although speeches are generally much less interactive than a classroom lesson. You need to make sure that the people listening actually understand what it is you're saying. Or as Avtalyon said somewhere else in Pirqey Avot: חכמים, היזהרו בדבריכם. Sages, be wary of your words.