Maybe say nothing!

For example, ‘fools… delight in airing their own opinions’ (18:2), whereas the wise use words with restraint. In fact, ‘Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues’ (17:28). As American historian Will Durant (1885–1981) once said, ‘One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say.’! The writer then touches on other characteristics of the wise: friendliness (18:1), listening (v.2) and justice (v.5).