--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Silences, as every observer knows, have…" description: "\"Silences, as every observer knows, have strange characteristics all their own - passionate silences, and hateful silences, and silences full of friendl..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/458/alice-duer-miller-20989_characteristics_silences-as-every-observer-knows-have-st_2191307.png" --- # Silences, as every observer knows, have strange… ![“Silences, as every observer knows, have strange characteristics all their own - passionate silences, and hateful silences, and silences full of friendly, purring content.” quote by Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/458/alice-duer-miller-20989_characteristics_silences-as-every-observer-knows-have-st_2191307.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/458/alice-duer-miller-20989_characteristics_silences-as-every-observer-knows-have-st_2191307.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/458/alice-duer-miller-20989_characteristics_silences-as-every-observer-knows-have-st_2191307.png) > “Silences, as every observer knows, have strange characteristics all their own - passionate silences, and hateful silences, and silences full of friendly, purring content.” [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Silences possess distinct qualities—passionate, hateful, friendly—each conveying its own message. **In simple terms:** Silences have different moods. Key Takeaway Listen to the nuance of silence. Themes communication silence emotions Mood contemplative poetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - mediation sessions - creative writing - relationship counseling Key Concepts nonverbal cues psychology interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What does your silence say? - When is silence more powerful than words? A Different Perspective Silence can hide conflict as much as speech. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Characteristics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characteristics/) [Friendly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendly/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Hateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hateful/) [Hateful Silences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hateful-silences-4773978/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Observers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observers/) [Passionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passionate/) [Passionate Silences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passionate-silences-4773977/) [Purring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purring/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Silences Friendly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silences-friendly-4773981/) [Silences Hateful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silences-hateful-4773979/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Strange Characteristics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange-characteristics-4773980/) ## Related quotes > [“It’s just taking some getting used to. The snarling, the hissing, the purring. Then I have to deal with it from the baby….” “Ha,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-laurenston/it-s-just-taking-some-getting-used-to-the-snarling-the-hissing-the/) [Shelly Laurenston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-laurenston/) > [“Sometimes I like her calm, unwild, gentle as a sleeping child, and wonder as she lies, a fur ring, curled upon my lap, unstirring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-serraillier/sometimes-i-like-her-calm-unwild-gentle-as-a-sleeping-child-and/) [Ian Serraillier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-serraillier/) > [JACE WAYLAND," she said. "Explain yourself." Jace was glaring at the cat. "I told you to bring me to Alec! Backstabing Judas." Church rolled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/jace-wayland-she-said-explain-yourself-jace-was-glaring-at-the-cat-i/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [ He \[the cat\] wound himself around her legs, purring the purr of ardent desire like a kettle coming to a boil and then bubbling… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/may-sarton/he-the-cat-wound-himself-around-her-legs-purring-the-purr-of-ardent/) [May Sarton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/may-sarton/) > [Holding up my purring cat to the moon. I sighed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/holding-up-my-purring-cat-to-the-moon-i-sighed/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [He bit the inside of his cheek, Death purring wildy. 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It is when I am unhappy, with an ache perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-la-marr/when-i-am-happy-i-am-like-a-cat-sleek-and-purring-quite-useless-it-is/) [Barbara La Marr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-la-marr/) > [... I stare into the fridge. Like a mirrored image of myself. Cold and empty, and the lights come on only when you open…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hallgr-mur-helgason/i-stare-into-the-fridge-like-a-mirrored-image-of-myself-cold-and/) [Hallgrimur Helgason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hallgr-mur-helgason/) > [Thought subsides when you pet your dog or you have a purring cat on your chest. Even just watching an animal can take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/thought-subsides-when-you-pet-your-dog-or-you-have-a-purring-cat-on/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [“No one has ever been able to discover how they make this subtle sound, and what is more, no one ever will. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallico/no-one-has-ever-been-able-to-discover-how-they-make-this-subtle-sound/) [Paul Gallico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gallico/) > [“Purring wasn't going to be an issue if he kept looking at me like that. I was going to have a stroke.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacey-rourke/purring-wasn-t-going-to-be-an-issue-if-he-kept-looking-at-me-like/) [Stacey Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacey-rourke/) ## More by Alice Duer Miller > [Hate is perhaps the most dynamic of all emotions - fear may immobilize, love may stay the hand, but hate urges to action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/hate-is-perhaps-the-most-dynamic-of-all-emotions-fear-may-immobilize/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [the strongest will is the will that knows how to bend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/the-strongest-will-is-the-will-that-knows-how-to-bend/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [“It is among the commonplaces of education that we often first cut off the living root and then try to replace its natural functions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/it-is-among-the-commonplaces-of-education-that-we-often-first-cut-off/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [Conversation is a partnership, not a relation of master and slave, as most people try to make it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/conversation-is-a-partnership-not-a-relation-of-master-and-slave-as/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [In a world where England is finished and dead: I do not wish to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/in-a-world-where-england-is-finished-and-dead-i-do-not-wish-to-live/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [No one really believes in equality who's on top.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/no-one-really-believes-in-equality-who-s-on-top/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [They make other nations seem pale and flighty, But they do think England is God almighty, And you must remind them now and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/they-make-other-nations-seem-pale-and-flighty-but-they-do-think/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [“I sha'n't mind it a bit, Ben," she said, "and for a good reason—because I'm terribly conceited." He did not understand at all, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/i-sha-n-t-mind-it-a-bit-ben-she-said-and-for-a-good-reason-because-i/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [It is among the commonplaces of education that we often first cut off the living root and then try to replace its natural functions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/it-is-among-the-commonplaces-of-education-that-we-often-first-cut-off-2/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [“He was scolding me," replied Mr. Cord. "Have you noticed, Crystal, what a lot of scolding is going on in the world at present?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/he-was-scolding-me-replied-mr-cord-have-you-noticed-crystal-what-a/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [Men are too emotional to vote. Their conduct at baseball games and political conventions shows this . . .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/men-are-too-emotional-to-vote-their-conduct-at-baseball-games-and/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [“He doesn't know anything," said Klein. "That's his trouble. He's clever, but he doesn't know much. I guess he only began to read books…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/he-doesn-t-know-anything-said-klein-that-s-his-trouble-he-s-clever/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [“It's hard upon occasions to be forceful and sublime When you're treated as incompetents three-quarters of the time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/it-s-hard-upon-occasions-to-be-forceful-and-sublime-when-you-re/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [Rare indeed is the nature that does not become a little more intense when its own affairs come under discussion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/rare-indeed-is-the-nature-that-does-not-become-a-little-more-intense/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) > [“If it's painful for you to criticize your friends, you're safe in doing it; if you take the slightest pleasure in it, that's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-duer-miller/if-it-s-painful-for-you-to-criticize-your-friends-you-re-safe-in/) [Alice Duer Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) [Explore all 30 Alice Duer Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-duer-miller/) ## More Characteristics quotes > [One of the key characteristics of the comic book medium is that it is not brought to life by just one voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lee/one-of-the-key-characteristics-of-the-comic-book-medium-is-that-it-is/) [Jim Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lee/) > [“What makes a good leader? I ask myself this every day, and then as I begin to list off characteristics I realize I’m describing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/what-makes-a-good-leader-i-ask-myself-this-every-day-and-then-as-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Those who know New York City primarily through tourism or mass culture may think of us natives as possessing certain shared characteristics, not all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/those-who-know-new-york-city-primarily-through-tourism-or-mass/) [Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/) > [Sometimes, Ms. Lane," he said, "one must break with one's past to embrace one's future. It is never an easy thing to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sometimes-ms-lane-he-said-one-must-break-with-one-s-past-to-embrace/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [Just because someone thinks they remember something in detail, with confidence and with emotion, does not mean that it actually happened, .. False memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-loftus/just-because-someone-thinks-they-remember-something-in-detail-with/) [Elizabeth Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-loftus/) > [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A second characteristic of the process which for me is the good life, is that it involves an increasingly tendency to live fully in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/a-second-characteristic-of-the-process-which-for-me-is-the-good-life/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [Philanthropy is one of the most hopeful characteristics of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-livermore/philanthropy-is-one-of-the-most-hopeful-characteristics-of-our-time/) [Mary Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-livermore/) > [God has given this way of life to Israel: to abstain from everything which is contrary to nature, that is to say, anger, fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poemen/god-has-given-this-way-of-life-to-israel-to-abstain-from-everything/) [Poemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poemen/) > [The most significant moment will be when we stop referring to the hiring of qualified women (and racial, ethnic and religious minorities) as significant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-trask/the-most-significant-moment-will-be-when-we-stop-referring-to-the/) [Amy Trask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-trask/) > [Iron and coal dominated everywhere, from grey to black: the black boots, the black stove-pipe hat, the black coach or carriage, the black iron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/iron-and-coal-dominated-everywhere-from-grey-to-black-the-black-boots/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. 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