I am silent, not because I lack the courage to speak or am in fear of being ridiculed--
it's that I need firstly to look at the issue from all possible angles, dispassionately,  circumspectly and intelligently.

Rashness would harm or ruin myself---prudence and patience would save me.

In dealing with another person, my delayed response is being fair to him as he's given a fair chance of being respectfully heard.