This article on Finnish stoicism reminds me of that famous maxim: “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”
Because Finns rarely talk, when they do talk, they choose their words very carefully, and what they do say is incredibly loaded. They mean absolutely every word they say. A different word here and there is significant. Finns are also understated. If they say someone is sick, they are probably dying.
Finns also listen very carefully and easily pick up subtleties and nuances. Finns put everything you say under the microscope. There’s no such thing as the throwaway line, enthusiastic exaggeration or poetic licence. I once casually mentioned I was annoyed with my husband and wanted to wring his neck. A work colleague said I had only been married a short time and I should give it a chance and think seriously before separating. I said that wasn’t what I meant. They asked if I didn’t mean it, why did I say it. Clinical Finnish logic. Gets you every time.
Finns don’t trust big talkers. Finns are suspicious of extra words and wary of passion and emotion. Finnish conversation is even and measured. Finns don’t raise their voice. This suggests Finns are gentle people. Finns are not gentle. Gentle people don’t play ice hockey. In Australia and many other countries, just-contained anger is an effective tactic in hostile negotiations. In Finland, anger, passion and emotion suggest you’re not in control. If you raise your voice, you immediately lose authority and credibility. Finns lose respect and you lose the argument.
Finns are also known for the untranslatable concept of “sisu“. Wikipedia:
“Sisu is a Finnish term that combines inner strength, determination, perseverance in the face of adversity, and a strong work ethic. There is no direct English translation, but the concept can be somewhat expressed as “tough as nails” or “hard-nosed”. To anthropologists, it is an appropriate invention for a cold northern land, fractured by thousands of lakes, and long under threat of being overwhelmed, militarily, linguistically and otherwise, by more powerful neighbours. Similar concepts exist among other cold-weather peoples, such as the Inuit and Chukchi.”