Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
John Francis, the man who went silent for 17 years, didn't just have a quiet moment – he had an entire quiet era.
In 1973, after having witnessed a devastating oil spill in San Francisco Bay, this American environmentalist, also known as ‘Planet Walker’, decided to ditch cars, trains and planes. He took a seven-year hike across the United States, with detours to complete his studies. Then, he crossed 48 states of Amera and continued through South america over the next 15 years.
The more he argued with people about the advantages of walking, the less he was convinced of his experiment. He then decided to stop speaking.
"I realised that I hadn't been listening to anyone, because … I was thinking all the time of what I was going to say back to them. I had stopped learning," he told ABC RN's Sunday Extra.
This wasn’t just a random quiet spell. It was a deep dive into self-reflection, learning and... silence. Imagine walking around for years, absorbing everything and everyone, with your mind quieting down.
Dr Francis communicated without words – using body language, art (he painted and played the banjo), and soaking up all the wisdom he could from those around him. He even managed to earn a degree, masters and PhD in environmental studies – all while keeping his lips sealed. Not bad, right?
But, after 17 years, on Earth Day 1990, he spoke again to thank those who were with him on this journey and remind the world that silence might just have more to teach than talking ever will.
