--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: …(my father) would say nothing, And I…" description: "\"“ …(my father) would say nothing, And I could not find a silence Among the one hundred Chinese silences That would fit the one he created Even though I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/billy-collins-3004_grief_my-father-would-say-nothing-and-i-could_953417.jpg" --- # …(my father) would say nothing, And I could not find a… ![“…(my father) would say nothing, And I could not find a silence Among the one hundred Chinese silences That would fit the one he created Even though I was the one Who had just made up the business Of the one hundred Chinese silences- The Silence of the Night Boat. And the Silence of the Lotus…” quote by Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/billy-collins-3004_grief_my-father-would-say-nothing-and-i-could_953417.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/billy-collins-3004_grief_my-father-would-say-nothing-and-i-could_953417.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/03b/billy-collins-3004_grief_my-father-would-say-nothing-and-i-could_953417.jpg) > ““ …(my father) would say nothing, And I could not find a silence Among the one hundred Chinese silences That would fit the one he created Even though I was the one Who had just made up the business Of the one hundred Chinese silences- The Silence of the Night Boat. And the Silence of the Lotus, Cousin to the Silence of the Temple Bell Only deeper and softer… ”” [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The poet reflects on trying to match his father's profound silence with countless imagined quiet moments, realizing true silence is unique and deeper than any constructed one. **In simple terms:** Seeking a silence that matches a father's depth. Key Takeaway Embrace authentic moments instead of imagined perfection. Themes silence family perception memory search authenticity Mood melancholic contemplative reflective Type poetic literary philosophical When to use this quote - grieving a parent - creative writing - mindful meditation - contemplating loss Key Concepts existential reflection poetic imagery comparative silence Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize genuine silence in daily life? - What does your father's silence teach you about presence? A Different Perspective The quest for perfect silence may overlook the value of imperfect, lived moments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) ## Related quotes > [“Grave What do you think of my new glasses I asked as I stood under a shade tree before the joined grave of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/grave-what-do-you-think-of-my-new-glasses-i-asked-as-i-stood-under-a/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [“So what did God say to me in the silence that morning? 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Silence speaks it all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/disha-patani/sometimes-you-don-t-have-to-say-anything-silence-speaks-it-all/) [Disha Patani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/disha-patani/) > [Silence is something more than just a pause; it is that enchanted place where space is cleared and time is stayed and the horizon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/silence-is-something-more-than-just-a-pause-it-is-that-enchanted/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [What you say in silence in front of no one, say it loud in front of the crowd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/what-you-say-in-silence-in-front-of-no-one-say-it-loud-in-front-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some say silence is golden, I choose noise!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-lewis/some-say-silence-is-golden-i-choose-noise/) [Blake Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-lewis/) > [“I squirmed in my hiding spot. 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It has its price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-sapkowski/i-need-this-conversation-they-say-silence-is-golden-maybe-it-is/) [Andrzej Sapkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-sapkowski/) > [When you don't have anything to say your silence says it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davz-criss/when-you-don-t-have-anything-to-say-your-silence-says-it/) Davz Criss > [Hmmm! well! people say that silence is the best in many case and instances! but appropriate wordz add the magic when there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sardar-hyder-abbas/hmmm-well-people-say-that-silence-is-the-best-in-many-case-and/) [Sardar Hyder Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sardar-hyder-abbas/) > [“I don't know what to say to fill the silence. I don't know how to fix this. It seems wrong to leave him, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-m-ward/i-don-t-know-what-to-say-to-fill-the-silence-i-don-t-know-how-to-fix/) [H.M. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-m-ward/) > [To all who want to accomplish something I say, Go into the silence regularly for power and wisdom to accomplish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-towne/to-all-who-want-to-accomplish-something-i-say-go-into-the-silence/) Elizabeth Towne ## More by Billy Collins > [“The whole idea of it makes me feel Like I’m coming down with something, Something worse than any stomach ache Or the headaches I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/the-whole-idea-of-it-makes-me-feel-like-i-m-coming-down-with/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [I think clarity is the real risk in poetry because you are exposed. You're out in the open field. 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