U Thant was teaching in a school in the 40's when his boyhood friend Aung san became the Prime Minister of his country, Burma. The Prime Minister drafted U Thant into his Cabinet and later sent him to the UN as the leader of the Burmese delegation. He was entirely egoless and unambitious. Many people desired him to be the Secretary General which he refused, as he was afraid of being asked for a second term. His silence, absence of ambition, egolessness and humility had generated a great power.
When the post fell vacant, he was pressed to accept it. He was utterly reluctant as he was not combative. He accepted the nomination having extracted a promise that a second term should not be proposed to him. His very refusals, by virtue of their sincerity carry the power of SILENT WILL in a greater measure. Silent will is effective even as a policy. Before your boss if you do not have the temerity to speak out your wish, even that becomes Silent will and the boss exactly proposes to do what you have not had the courage to ask for. That happens even if a sore throat prevents you from speaking.
U Thant was not practising silent will. He had no will for ambition. Its power is consummate. At the end of his first term, the promise at the time of his nomination was forgotten and he was compelled to accept a second term. He never sought that post or any post. His not seeking generated that power of attraction. At the time of accepting the second term, he firmly resolved that that should be the last term and murmured it in the hearing of his supporting admirers.
Of course, a third term too was proposed to him to which he turned a deaf ear. Silence is powerful. Silent thinking is infectious. Silent will achieves. To one who resorts to the Spirit, there is a Silence behind Silence, which is a Silence behind No action or literally behind no movement.