empty.vessel

"The empty vessel makes the loudest noise."

The conventional method of interpreting the social meaning of this phrase would to assume that the empty vessel refers to someone who has the minimum of substance, content or intellect.

Obviously, society has little tolerance for this group of people, and presumably so, views upon its views as unworthy or as "noise".

Those that are deemed less knowing, are thought of to be ones who always have things to say, but lack substantial claims.

Now, try twisting the peribahasa on itself, and look at it from an entirely different perspective.

The empty vessel is not some who is "stupid" but rather, someone who knows that he does not know.

He makes "noise", not because he has nothing good to say, but because he questions the things that he is not sure of, and sometimes, a seemingly innocent question will ruffle the nerves of those being questioned, because his answers would be a measure of his "intellect" and status.

Most of the time, people assume that they know everything, and the worse part is that, they would not admit that they do not know.

"Tak tau tanye, jangan bodoh sombong." (ask any of yr Malay speaking friends)

It is only by asking, that we know more.

Good morning. :)