Words had become to him a means of obscuring facts — not of revealing them. He was an adept in the art of the useful phrase — that is to say the phrase that falls soothingly on the ear and is quite empty of meaning.

she talked less, or at least did less of the kind of talking whose only purpose was to fill silence

As a protective mechanism, I developed a terse, cynical mode of speech that rebuffed those who sought to get too close to me. Conversation was my way of avoiding expression; my words were reserved for those times when I sat down alone to write. My face was always a deadpan or a mask of general friendliness; no word or event could jar me into a gesture of enthusiasm or despair.

Talking much about oneself can also be a means to conceal oneself.

Look wise, say nothing, and grunt. Speech was given to conceal thought.

There are some that only employ words for the purpose of disguising their thoughts.

Hablo pensando que no debiera hablar: así hablo.

Language disguises thought.

Words deserted him immediately. He could only speak when he was not asked to.

A man is more a man through the things he keeps to himself than through those he says.

I have a tendency to really stuff things. I don't really express, you know? Like, express certain feelings and stuff.

I’d rather be quiet and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.

I talk thinking that I shouldn't talk: that is how I talk.

By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth.