I know of a Buddhist monastery that posts the sign "Noble Silence" on the dining room wall. Noble silence means setting an intention to remain silent. Words are used only when necessary. This does not mean there is no communication. On the contrary, not using words forces us to look around more, to pick up the cues of others without having to say the words. Most often, lunch was quiet in the monastery. If a monk's bowl was empty, another monk would pick up a bowl of rice or food and offer it without saying anything. I also find that silence promotes mindfulness and more care in actions.
The agricultural genius George Washington Carver, for example, used a period of silence each morning to listen to the secrets of plants and flowers. Extend your noble silence to others, so that their voices may be heard. Noble silence is not competitive or argumentative. Instead, it is open, expansive, tolerant, and without limits.
— Donald Altman, Living Kindness