--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How delicately language skirts the issue…" description: "\"“How delicately language skirts the issue. How meaningless it is.”\" — Audrey Niffenegger" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/audrey-niffenegger-1298_delicately_how-delicately-language-skirts-the-issue_675992.jpg" --- # How delicately language skirts the issue. How meaningless… ![“How delicately language skirts the issue. How meaningless it is.” quote by Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/audrey-niffenegger-1298_delicately_how-delicately-language-skirts-the-issue_675992.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/audrey-niffenegger-1298_delicately_how-delicately-language-skirts-the-issue_675992.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/audrey-niffenegger-1298_delicately_how-delicately-language-skirts-the-issue_675992.jpg) > ““How delicately language skirts the issue. How meaningless it is.”” [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Comments on language’s tendency to avoid deep issues, suggesting it often lacks substantive meaning. **In simple terms:** Language can skirt important topics and become meaningless. Key Takeaway Use language to address core issues directly. Themes communication philosophy meaning Mood reflective critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - academic writing - public speaking - media analysis Key Concepts semantic avoidance linguistic critique Questions to Reflect On - When does language become a barrier? - How can you ensure clarity in complex topics? A Different Perspective Overly abstract language can still convey nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Delicately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delicately/) [Delicately Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delicately-language-5357892/) [Issue Meaningless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issue-meaningless-5357893/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language Skirts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-skirts-5357894/) [Meaningless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningless/) ## Related quotes > [“We hold hands together delicately and sublimely and look longingly into each other’s eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/we-hold-hands-together-delicately-and-sublimely-and-look-longingly/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [All things are delicately interconnected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-holzer/all-things-are-delicately-interconnected/) [Jenny Holzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-holzer/) > [Flatter me, but delicately, please, for I am fastidious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/flatter-me-but-delicately-please-for-i-am-fastidious/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Wait, Lois, we have to handle this delicately. Our son…wants…to plow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-griffin/wait-lois-we-have-to-handle-this-delicately-our-son-wants-to-plow-you/) [Peter Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-griffin/) > [Well, to put it delicately, she has the power to suck out people's brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/well-to-put-it-delicately-she-has-the-power-to-suck-out-people-s/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [“Spirituality is like a thin-thin thread, that if delicately followed guides us from darkness to light; from poverty to abundance and from destruction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/spirituality-is-like-a-thin-thin-thread-that-if-delicately-followed/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“Now Juan could not understand a word, Being no Grecian; but he had an ear, And her voice was the warble of a bird,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gordon-byron/now-juan-could-not-understand-a-word-being-no-grecian-but-he-had-an/) [George Gordon Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gordon-byron/) > [“You are different." She lifted a hand to delicately trace his hairline. He closed his eyes, feeling her fingers tremble against his skin. "For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/you-are-different-she-lifted-a-hand-to-delicately-trace-his-hairline/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [“Louisa raised an eyebrow. "Is he—how shall I put it delicately—a simple man?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullinan/louisa-raised-an-eyebrow-is-he-how-shall-i-put-it-delicately-a-simple/) [Heidi Cullinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullinan/) > [A poem is this:/A nuance of sound/delicately operating/upon a cataract of sense/...the particulars/of a song waking/upon a bed of sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/a-poem-is-this-a-nuance-of-sound-delicately-operating-upon-a-cataract/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [His lips brushed against mine. Delicately at first, almost testing to see if this was real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/his-lips-brushed-against-mine-delicately-at-first-almost-testing-to/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [I sleep all day. Noises flit around the house- garbage truck in the alley, rain, tree rapping against the bedroom window. I sleep. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-sleep-all-day-noises-flit-around-the-house-garbage-truck-in-the/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [He would say her name over and over until it devolved into meaningless sounds - mah REI kuh, mah REI kuh - it became…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/he-would-say-her-name-over-and-over-until-it-devolved-into/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [We live not only in a world of thoughts, but also in a world of things. Words without experience are meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/we-live-not-only-in-a-world-of-thoughts-but-also-in-a-world-of-things/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [“The only thing that belongs to us is our LIFE. Yet, we waste it in the pursuit of meaningless things that will never belong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/the-only-thing-that-belongs-to-us-is-our-life-yet-we-waste-it-in-the/) [RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/) ## More by Audrey Niffenegger > [But you know: you know that if I could have stayed, if I could have gone on, that I would have clutched every second:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/but-you-know-you-know-that-if-i-could-have-stayed-if-i-could-have/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I look at him, look at the book, remember, this book, this moment, the first book I ever loved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-look-at-him-look-at-the-book-remember-this-book-this-moment-the/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“When I was young I didn't understand, but now, I know, how absence can be present, like a damaged nerve, like a dark bird.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/when-i-was-young-i-didn-t-understand-but-now-i-know-how-absence-can/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [Everything seems simple until you think about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/everything-seems-simple-until-you-think-about-it/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I place my hands over her ears and tip her head back, and kiss her, and try to put my heart into hers, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-place-my-hands-over-her-ears-and-tip-her-head-back-and-kiss-her-and/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“Sister Carmelita says animals don't have souls" "Of course animals have souls, where did she get that idea?" "She said the Pope says." "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/sister-carmelita-says-animals-don-t-have-souls-of-course-animals-have/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [We didn't think the library was funny looking in it's faux- Greek splendor, nor did we find the cuisine limited or bland, or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/we-didn-t-think-the-library-was-funny-looking-in-it-s-faux-greek/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [He said something interesting: he said that he thinks there is only free will when you are in time, in the present. He says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/he-said-something-interesting-he-said-that-he-thinks-there-is-only/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“Dead is the most alone you can be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/dead-is-the-most-alone-you-can-be/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [What are you doing?" Nothing. Breaking and entering. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/what-are-you-doing-nothing-breaking-and-entering-pay-no-attention-to/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [I won't ever leave you, even though you're always leaving me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-won-t-ever-leave-you-even-though-you-re-always-leaving-me/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“It seems like we're going to collide, and we laugh, and laugh, and nothing can ever be sad, no one can be lost, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/it-seems-like-we-re-going-to-collide-and-we-laugh-and-laugh-and/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“We were royally miserable together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/we-were-royally-miserable-together/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“No.” Valentina closed her eyes. Of course not. “It’ll be great, Mouse. We’ll have our own apartment, we won’t have to work,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/no-valentina-closed-her-eyes-of-course-not-it-ll-be-great-mouse-we-ll/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) > [“I make books because I love them as objects; because I want to put the pictures and the words together, because I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/i-make-books-because-i-love-them-as-objects-because-i-want-to-put-the/) [Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) [Explore all 250 Audrey Niffenegger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/) ## More Delicately quotes > [His lips brushed against mine. Delicately at first, almost testing to see if this was real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/his-lips-brushed-against-mine-delicately-at-first-almost-testing-to/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [A poem is this:/A nuance of sound/delicately operating/upon a cataract of sense/...the particulars/of a song waking/upon a bed of sound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/a-poem-is-this-a-nuance-of-sound-delicately-operating-upon-a-cataract/) [William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/) > [“Louisa raised an eyebrow. "Is he—how shall I put it delicately—a simple man?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-cullinan/louisa-raised-an-eyebrow-is-he-how-shall-i-put-it-delicately-a-simple/) [Heidi Cullinan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-cullinan/) > [“You are different." She lifted a hand to delicately trace his hairline. He closed his eyes, feeling her fingers tremble against his skin. "For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-hoyt/you-are-different-she-lifted-a-hand-to-delicately-trace-his-hairline/) [Elizabeth Hoyt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-hoyt/) > [“Now Juan could not understand a word, Being no Grecian; but he had an ear, And her voice was the warble of a bird,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gordon-byron/now-juan-could-not-understand-a-word-being-no-grecian-but-he-had-an/) [George Gordon Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gordon-byron/) > [“Spirituality is like a thin-thin thread, that if delicately followed guides us from darkness to light; from poverty to abundance and from destruction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/spirituality-is-like-a-thin-thin-thread-that-if-delicately-followed/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [Well, to put it delicately, she has the power to suck out people's brains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-landy/well-to-put-it-delicately-she-has-the-power-to-suck-out-people-s/) [Derek Landy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-landy/) > [Wait, Lois, we have to handle this delicately. Our son…wants…to plow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-griffin/wait-lois-we-have-to-handle-this-delicately-our-son-wants-to-plow-you/) [Peter Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-griffin/) > [Flatter me, but delicately, please, for I am fastidious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/flatter-me-but-delicately-please-for-i-am-fastidious/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [All things are delicately interconnected.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-holzer/all-things-are-delicately-interconnected/) [Jenny Holzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-holzer/) > [“We hold hands together delicately and sublimely and look longingly into each other’s eyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/we-hold-hands-together-delicately-and-sublimely-and-look-longingly/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) [Browse all 12 Delicately quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/delicately/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How delicately language skirts the issue. 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