Every extra sentence gives someone a handle. They can twist it, quote it, argue it, or use it to pin you down later.
Speak with economy. Answer what was asked, not what you wish they understood. Let silence pressure others into revealing their motives, their fears, and their priorities. When you explain too much, you often signal need, anxiety, or weakness.
Brevity also creates mystery, and mystery invites respect. It makes you harder to read and harder to trap. In negotiation, minimal words keep your options open. In conflict, minimal words reduce escalation. If you must speak, speak in clean decisions, not in defenses. The less you say, the fewer mistakes you create, and the more control you retain.