A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

SPEAK softly and carry a big stick
United States President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) used this saying on a number of occasions, claiming it to be an old proverb, though there is no apparent evidence for this claim. The variant ‘walk softly.. ‘ is occasionally found.

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  1901 T. ROOSEVELT speech at Minnesota State Fair (2 Sept.) in StarTribune 3 Sept. (online) A good many of you are probably acquainted with the old proverb, ‘Speak softly and carry a big stick—you will go far.’ 1982 Christian Science Monitor 21 July 9 Carry a big stick but speak softly—a lot more softly. That, in effect, is the wisdom being urged upon America’s official information agency, the International Communications Agency (ICA), by its national oversight commission. 2007 Times Mag. 30 June 90 Strange game, diplomacy, I reflect.. Speak softly and carry a big stick, as someone once put it. I feel I let myself down on both counts. "efficiency and inefficiency; power
  

speak see also ACTIONS speak louder than words; out of the FULLNESS of the heart the mouth speaks; who KNOWS most, speaks least; the KUMARA does not speak of its own sweetness; SEE no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil; TALK of the Devil, and he is bound to appear; THINK first and speak afterwards; also SPOKEN.
speaking see it’s ill speaking between a FULL man and a fasting.
Everyone SPEAKS well of the bridge which carries him over

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  1678 J. RAY English Proverbs (ed. 2) 106 Let every man praise the bridge he goes over. i.e. Speak not ill of him who hath done you a courtesie, or whom you have made use of to your benefit; or do commonly make use of. 1797 F. BAILY Journal 11 May (1856) 279 Let every one speak well of the bridge which carries him safe over. 1850 C. KINGSLEY Alton Locke I. x. Every one speaks well of the bridge which carries him over. Every one fancies the laws which fill his pockets to be God’s laws. 1886 G. DAWSON Biographical Lectures i. Our love of compromise.. has also been our great strength. .. We speak well of the bridge that carries us over. "assistance; public opinion