"I am better able to retract what I did not say than what I did"

In this quote, Solomon Ibn Gabriol is expressing the idea that it is easier for him to take back or pull back something that he did not say, instead of something that he did state. This could be translated in a few various ways. One possible analysis is that he values silence and restraint in speech, and believes that it is much better to hold back from saying something than to state something that he may be sorry for later on. Another analysis could be that he thinks it is simpler to correct an error or misconception when nothing was said, instead of attempting to reverse the impact of something that was actually spoken. In general, this quote highlights the significance of careful and thoughtful communication.