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Silence is the language of God; all else is poor translation.
I found this quote, like many, attributed to Rumi (one, two, three non-verifiable sources). Since Rumi quotes are notoriously often mistranslated or misattributed, this needs a better source to be sure.
Did Rumi actually write this? If so, where?
It was saint john of the cross who wrote, "silence is the first language of God," and the contemporary Christian mystic, Father Thomas Keating, who added, "all else is a poor translation." But today people are very lazy about checking references and attribute every spiritual saying that sounds good to Rumi, Laotzu, or Buddha.
