Henry David Thoreau Quotes about Silence

The most difficult thing to understand during conversation is silence.

The most difficult thing to understand during conversation is silence.

Henry David Thoreau

Silence, Speech, Conversation

We communicate like the burrows of foxes, in silence and darkness, under ground. We are undermined by faith and love.

Henry David Thoreau

Faith, Communication, Silence

Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.1644, Delphi Classics

The silence sings. It is musical. I remember a night when it was audible. I heard the unspeakable.

Henry David Thoreau

Night, Silence, Musical

Henry David Thoreau, Horace Elisha Scudder, Harrison Gray Otis Blake, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Franklin Benjamin Sanborn (1898). “The writings of Henry David Thoreau”

What can be expressed in words can be expressed in life.

Henry David Thoreau

Silence

Henry David Thoreau (2012). “The Portable Thoreau”, p.357, Penguin

In human intercourse the tragedy begins, not when there is misunderstanding about words, but when silence is not understood.

Henry David Thoreau

Sad, Live Life, Silence

Henry David Thoreau, Carl Hovde (1980). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.278, Princeton University Press

Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after satiety as after disappointment; that background which the painter may not daub, be he master or bungler, and which, however awkward a figure we may have made in the foreground, remains ever our inviolable asylum, where no indignity can assail, no personality can disturb us.

Henry David Thoreau

Disappointment, Silence, Personality

Henry David Thoreau (2013). “A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers”, p.312, Courier Corporation

Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after satiety as after disappointment

Henry David Thoreau

Disappointment, Silence, Dull

Henry David Thoreau (2014). “The Illustrated "A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers"”, p.392, Princeton University Press

There are some things which a man never speaks of, which are much finer kept silent about. To the highest communications we only lend a silent ear.

Henry David Thoreau

Communication, Men, Silence

Henry David Thoreau (2000). “Walden and Other Writings: (A Modern Library E-Book)”, p.416, Modern Library

The man I meet with is not often so instructive as the silence he breaks.

Henry David Thoreau

Men, Silence, He Man

Henry David Thoreau (1960). “H. D. Thoreau, a Writer's Journal”, p.155, Courier Corporation

As the truest society approaches always nearer to solitude, so the most excellent speech finally falls into Silence. Silence is audible to all men, at all times, and in all places. She is when we hear inwardly, sound when we hear outwardly. Creation has not displaced her, but is her visible framework and foil. All sounds are her servants, and purveyors, proclaiming not only that their mistress is, but is a rare mistress, and earnestly to be sought after.

Henry David Thoreau

Fall, Men, Silence

Henry David Thoreau (1977). “The portable Thoreau”, Penguin

Priests and physicians should never look one another in the face. They have no common ground, nor is there any to mediate betweenthem. When the one comes, the other goes. They could not come together without laughter, or a significant silence, for the one's profession is a satire on the other's, and either's success would be the other's failure.

Henry David Thoreau

Laughter, Doctors, Silence

Henry David Thoreau (2013). “Delphi Complete Works of Henry David Thoreau (Illustrated)”, p.197, Delphi Classics

I have been breaking silence these twenty-three years and have hardly made a rent in it.

Henry David Thoreau

Years, Silence, Twenties

Henry David Thoreau (2011). “The Journal of Henry David Thoreau, 1837-1861”, p.17, New York Review of Books

The orator puts off his individuality, and is then most eloquent when most silent. He listens while he speaks, and is a hearer along with his audience.

Henry David Thoreau

Silence, Individuality, Speech

Henry David Thoreau, John C. Broderick, Robert Sattelmeyer (1981). “Journal”, p.114, Princeton University Press