--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think we can learn a lot about a person…" description: "\"I think we can learn a lot about a person in the very moment that language fails them. In the very moment they they have to be more creative than they ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/anna-deavere-smith-4847_communicate_i-think-we-can-learn-a-lot-about-a-perso_2388519.jpg" --- # I think we can learn a lot about a person in the very… ![“I think we can learn a lot about a person in the very moment that language fails them. In the very moment they they have to be more creative than they would have imagined in order to communicate. It's the very moment that they have to dig deeper than the surface to find words, and at the same…” quote by Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/anna-deavere-smith-4847_communicate_i-think-we-can-learn-a-lot-about-a-perso_2388519.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/anna-deavere-smith-4847_communicate_i-think-we-can-learn-a-lot-about-a-perso_2388519.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/anna-deavere-smith-4847_communicate_i-think-we-can-learn-a-lot-about-a-perso_2388519.jpg) > “I think we can learn a lot about a person in the very moment that language fails them. In the very moment they they have to be more creative than they would have imagined in order to communicate. It's the very moment that they have to dig deeper than the surface to find words, and at the same time, it's a moment when they want to communicate very badly. They're digging deep and projecting out at the same time.” [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When language breaks down, a person’s true creativity and urgency to be understood surface, revealing deeper aspects of their character. **In simple terms:** Language failure reveals hidden creativity and urgency. Key Takeaway Observe how people act when words fail. Themes communication creativity human nature authenticity Mood curious introspective Type observational analytical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - interpersonal dialogue - teaching - public speaking Key Concepts psychology expressive behavior emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond when you can’t find words? - What does this reveal about your own communication style? A Different Perspective Not all insights are reliable; people may mask true feelings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Digging deep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/digging-deep/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Since I was born I wanted to entertain and communicate. I wanted to communicate so badly ... My sixth-grade math teacher taped my mouth.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-elfman/since-i-was-born-i-wanted-to-entertain-and-communicate-i-wanted-to/) [Jenna Elfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-elfman/) > [“To describe an emotion is to feel with words. To communicate a moment of existence is to bridge the eternal and the temporal with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-heyworth/to-describe-an-emotion-is-to-feel-with-words-to-communicate-a-moment/) Charles M. Heyworth > [A songwriter's heart is pure when they have the desire to keep digging deeper into music. And invariably, when you dig deeper it always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-white/a-songwriter-s-heart-is-pure-when-they-have-the-desire-to-keep/) [Jack White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-white/) > [Language fails not because thought fails, but because no verbal symbols can do justice to the fullness and richness of thought. Ifwe are to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/language-fails-not-because-thought-fails-but-because-no-verbal/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [“Words fail… As a grudging admission, after much denial, that even as we try to preserve and create, through, with, in language, whatever is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-c-sunico/words-fail-as-a-grudging-admission-after-much-denial-that-even-as-we/) Ramon C. Sunico > [I think the names of colors are at the edge, between where language fails and where it's at its most powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt-2/i-think-the-names-of-colors-are-at-the-edge-between-where-language/) [A. S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt-2/) > [War is what happens when language fails.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/war-is-what-happens-when-language-fails/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Music is what we need when language fails us, but we cannot remain silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/music-is-what-we-need-when-language-fails-us-but-we-cannot-remain/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [I'm interested in when language fails, when it is opaque.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-ligon/i-m-interested-in-when-language-fails-when-it-is-opaque/) [Glenn Ligon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-ligon/) > [When language fails, violence becomes a language; I never had that feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/when-language-fails-violence-becomes-a-language-i-never-had-that/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Love will heal What language fails to know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eavan-boland/love-will-heal-what-language-fails-to-know/) [Eavan Boland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eavan-boland/) > [There are times in life when language fails us, when everything that needs to be said can be expressed only by saying nothing at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/there-are-times-in-life-when-language-fails-us-when-everything-that/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [“The moment you stop trying to become a better person, is the moment you start to become worse than what you already are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carroll-bryant/the-moment-you-stop-trying-to-become-a-better-person-is-the-moment/) [Carroll Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carroll-bryant/) > [“Because the first time they met... Y-da: "You know, Y-naga-san, the more makeup you put on, the more you look like a guy in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumi-yoshinaga/because-the-first-time-they-met-y-da-you-know-y-naga-san-the-more/) Fumi Yoshinaga > [“If there's one thing I've learned over the years It's that it only takes one person...one moment to change your life forever. To change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-yang/if-there-s-one-thing-i-ve-learned-over-the-years-it-s-that-it-only/) Christina Yang ## More by Anna Deavere Smith > [I feel like my work has been my path to freedom from having grown up in a segregated environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/i-feel-like-my-work-has-been-my-path-to-freedom-from-having-grown-up/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [Identity is an assemblage of constellations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/identity-is-an-assemblage-of-constellations/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [I think some of our most talented people are not going to pick the arts as a way that they're going to spend their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/i-think-some-of-our-most-talented-people-are-not-going-to-pick-the/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [I mean, I think that - as an actress, in particular, I'm basically a fool, and I see the world upside down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/i-mean-i-think-that-as-an-actress-in-particular-i-m-basically-a-fool/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [The American idea is as promising, imaginative, and full of the unexpected as the land itself. The land represents freedom - the frontier, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/the-american-idea-is-as-promising-imaginative-and-full-of-the/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [I have never been in a violent movie or television show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/i-have-never-been-in-a-violent-movie-or-television-show/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [Poverty makes it very difficult in an already competitive world for kids to get on a straight track where they can actually love learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/poverty-makes-it-very-difficult-in-an-already-competitive-world-for/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [Your desire to communicate must be bigger than your relationship with the chaotic and unfair realities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/your-desire-to-communicate-must-be-bigger-than-your-relationship-with/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [Self-esteem does not come from surrounding yourself with people and things that seem to increase your value. Real self-esteem is an integration of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/self-esteem-does-not-come-from-surrounding-yourself-with-people-and/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [People realize that we're very good at sending people to war, but we're not good at taking care of them. And people are coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/people-realize-that-we-re-very-good-at-sending-people-to-war-but-we/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [I love studying how people are. Not just what they're saying, but how they are, what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/i-love-studying-how-people-are-not-just-what-they-re-saying-but-how/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [Many people are afraid to talk about race because it's so emotionally loaded. We don't have the vocabulary to talk about it. Every day,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-deavere-smith/many-people-are-afraid-to-talk-about-race-because-it-s-so-emotionally/) [Anna Deavere Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-deavere-smith/) > [Commit to finding the true nature of art. 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The verbs allow you to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/verbs-allow-you-to-communicate-a-story-in-a-much-more-converged-or/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I have learned so much from my dad. Perhaps the biggest thing I've learned from my dad is how to be prepared at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/i-have-learned-so-much-from-my-dad-perhaps-the-biggest-thing-i-ve/) [Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/) > [Even people who can't communicate can fall in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaejoong/even-people-who-can-t-communicate-can-fall-in-love/) [Jaejoong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaejoong/) > [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/) [L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/) > [Always being on the move has strange consequences. I meet so many amazing people, for a night, or sometimes just a few days. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaspar-claus/always-being-on-the-move-has-strange-consequences-i-meet-so-many/) [Gaspar Claus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaspar-claus/) > [“Even without words, you communicate through touch, body language, and facial expression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmel-sheridan/even-without-words-you-communicate-through-touch-body-language-and/) [Carmel Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmel-sheridan/) > [I could say that making clothes is my way of communicating, because I was always so shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/i-could-say-that-making-clothes-is-my-way-of-communicating-because-i/) [Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/) > [I think there's confusion around what the point of social networks is. A lot of different companies characterized as social networks have different goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/i-think-there-s-confusion-around-what-the-point-of-social-networks-is/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [Language just gradually came in, one or two stressed words a time. Before then, I would just scream. I couldn't talk. I couldn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/language-just-gradually-came-in-one-or-two-stressed-words-a-time/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Had Elijah Muhammad tried to introduce an orthodox form of Arab-oriented Islam, I doubt if he would have attracted 500 people, but he introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/had-elijah-muhammad-tried-to-introduce-an-orthodox-form-of-arab/) [John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/) > [Must whales and dolphins be subjected to deafening noise that will cause more than 3.5 million instances of temporary and/or permanent hearing loss? For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/must-whales-and-dolphins-be-subjected-to-deafening-noise-that-will/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [My wish for humanity is to invent a way to communicate between us and whatever comes next. And in the end that we the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/my-wish-for-humanity-is-to-invent-a-way-to-communicate-between-us-and/) [Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/) > [Having people around you that are honest with you, and having a team around you that can actually track and communicate where things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muneshine/having-people-around-you-that-are-honest-with-you-and-having-a-team/) [Muneshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muneshine/) > [The most important thing for a director is being able to communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/the-most-important-thing-for-a-director-is-being-able-to-communicate/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [Sourav's greatest asset is his ability to communicate. He is a naturally very confident person. He encourages his team, is a great motivator and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/sourav-s-greatest-asset-is-his-ability-to-communicate-he-is-a/) [Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/) Browse all 2,325 Communicate quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think we can learn a lot about a person in the very moment that language fails them. In the very moment they they have to be more creative than they would have imagined in order to communicate. It's the very moment that they have to dig deeper than the surface to find words, and at the same time, it's a moment when they want to communicate very badly. 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