They blame the silent. They blame the talkative. No one escapes blame.

What it means

Quiet, talkative or careful, someone will criticize you. The verse calls this an ancient fact, not a new one. Since you cannot avoid blame, stop shaping your life around it.

The source

"They blame the silent. They blame the talkative. No one escapes blame." The Buddha said it in Dhammapada 227. Translated from the original Pali by Spartan Surfers.

"Nindanti tuṇhimāsīnaṁ, nindanti bahubhāṇinaṁ; Mitabhāṇimpi nindanti, natthi loke anindito."

Original Pali, Dhammapada 227. Text read at suttacentral.net.

Who said it

The Buddha (c. 5th century BC). Siddhattha Gotama, the teacher from northern India whose path of insight and practice became Buddhism. His sayings survive in the Pali Canon, including the Dhammapada.

Questions

What does "They blame the silent. They blame the talkative. No one escapes blame." mean?

Quiet, talkative or careful, someone will criticize you. The verse calls this an ancient fact, not a new one. Since you cannot avoid blame, stop shaping your life around it.

Who said "They blame the silent. They blame the talkative. No one escapes blame."?

The Buddha (c. 5th century BC). Source: Dhammapada 227.

What is the original Pali?

Nindanti tuṇhimāsīnaṁ, nindanti bahubhāṇinaṁ; Mitabhāṇimpi nindanti, natthi loke anindito. Translated from the original Pali by Spartan Surfers.

Is "They blame the silent. They blame the talkative. No one escapes blame." on a shirt?

Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

"They blame the silent. They blame the talkative. No one escapes blame." (The Buddha, Dhammapada 227, translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/they-blame-the-silent-they-blame-the-talkative