The sentence 'Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.' demonstrates which device?

• A. Antithesis
• B. Aposiopesis
• C. Paradox
• D. Parataxis

Answer: (B)

Antithesis is at work here, using a sharp contrast between two ideas in a balanced, parallel structure. The first clause presents wise men who speak because they have something meaningful to say, while the second contrasts fools who speak merely because they feel they have to say something. The parallel phrasing and the opposing motives create a clear juxtaposition that highlights the difference between thoughtful speech and compelled speech. The semicolon helps link the two statements as equal parts of a whole, reinforcing the contrast rather than a cause-and-effect sequence. This isn’t a trail-off as in aposiopesis, nor a paradox that sounds self-contradictory, nor merely parataxis—it's the deliberate contrast of opposite ideas in a balanced form.