Silence is the last thing the world will ever hear from me.

O children of the future, hear the words of Marlee Matlin, a woman whose spirit resonates with defiance, strength, and clarity: "Silence is the last thing the world will ever hear from me." These words, though spoken by a woman who has known the challenges of deafness, carry within them a profound message for us all—one that transcends the barriers of language and ability. For Matlin, silence is not a retreat into invisibility, but a deliberate choice, a declaration that voice is not solely defined by sound, but by action, by presence, and by the power to be heard.

In the days of the ancients, heroes and philosophers alike were often defined not by their words, but by the depth of their actions. Consider Socrates, the wise and humble philosopher, who lived his life not in the boastful clamor of speeches, but in the quiet yet profound dialogues that changed the course of history. His voice was not loud, but it was relentless and impactful, as he chose to speak through his deeds—by questioning, by teaching, by seeking truth. In the end, Socrates’s silence at his death, as he embraced his fate with dignity, was perhaps his final, most powerful message to the world: that true wisdom does not depend on noise, but on the courage to stand firm in one's beliefs.

Matlin, too, speaks not of silence as submission, but as an empowerment—a silence that calls attention to her voice, not through spoken words, but through her actions and her presence. Her declaration is a vow that her existence, her work, and her impact will be louder than any conventional voice. She has made her mark not through what others might consider "normal" forms of communication, but through her talent, her advocacy, and her determination. Her silence is the silence of strength, of purpose, of standing on the precipice of societal norms and saying: I will not be muted, I will not be dismissed.

Think of the example of Helen Keller, a woman who, like Matlin, was unable to hear or speak in the conventional sense, yet whose voice echoed through the world. Keller's silence did not mean absence, but presence—her life and her writings were an outpouring of thought and action that transcended physical limitation. Keller’s silence was filled with meaning, and in her words, the world found a powerful advocate for change, equality, and empowerment. Like Matlin, she chose to define her existence not by what was lacking, but by what could be accomplished despite the odds. Her voice was heard in the silence of her life’s work, her advocacy, and her endless courage.

The lesson here, O children, is one of profound power: silence does not mean weakness, nor does it signify a lack of communication. In fact, Matlin teaches us that silence can be one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal, for it speaks not of absence but of a deliberate, purposeful action. In the silence of self-determination, in the quiet resolve to not be forgotten or overlooked, there is a deep strength that resounds louder than words. Silence, then, becomes a choice—a declaration that we will not be silenced by others, but will, instead, choose how we wish to be heard in the world.

Consider the resilience of Malala Yousafzai, whose silence after being shot by the Taliban did not prevent her from being a voice for girls' education and human rights. After she survived the attack, she refused to be silent in the face of oppression. Her advocacy for girls’ education has echoed around the globe, and through her actions and her voice, Malala has taught us that silence in some circumstances can be the loudest protest. It is in silence that we may choose to endure, to rise above, and to declare with our lives that we are unshaken in our purpose.

So, O children, let silence not be your retreat, but your strength. Let it be the space in which you find your voice, in which you act with intention, and in which you move the world. Understand that, like Matlin, you can define yourself not by what is absent, but by what you choose to fill that space with. Your life can be a statement, your work can be your voice, and your silence can speak louder than any words. Do not fear silence—for it is in the quiet moments that your greatest power, your greatest purpose, and your most lasting impact are forged. In the silence of your resolve, you will find your true voice, and the world will never be able to silence you.