--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only answer that I give to you is…" description: "\"“The only answer that I give to you is doing it,\" he said. \"A just request is to be met in silence, by the act.”\" — Dante Alighieri" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/dante-alighieri-590_silence_the-only-answer-that-i-give-to-you-is-do_713607.jpg" --- # The only answer that I give to you is doing it," he said… ![“The only answer that I give to you is doing it," he said. "A just request is to be met in silence, by the act.” quote by Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/dante-alighieri-590_silence_the-only-answer-that-i-give-to-you-is-do_713607.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/dante-alighieri-590_silence_the-only-answer-that-i-give-to-you-is-do_713607.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/dante-alighieri-590_silence_the-only-answer-that-i-give-to-you-is-do_713607.jpg) > ““The only answer that I give to you is doing it," he said. "A just request is to be met in silence, by the act.”” [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Action is the sole answer; a just request is fulfilled silently through deeds. **In simple terms:** Action is the answer; deeds fulfill just requests. Key Takeaway Act to fulfill justice. Themes ethics action silence Mood thoughtful determined Type poetic ethical When to use this quote - social activism - personal resolve - conflict resolution Key Concepts justice volition Questions to Reflect On - What actions speak louder than words? - When is silence appropriate for justice? A Different Perspective Silence may hide the effort required. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ## Related quotes > [“In silence, an act is an act is an act. Verbalized and discussed, it becomes an ethical problem ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/in-silence-an-act-is-an-act-is-an-act-verbalized-and-discussed-it/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The shortest answer is doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/the-shortest-answer-is-doing/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [“I kissed her.” His words were met with silence and then, “How was it?” “On a scale of one to ten, it was about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/i-kissed-her-his-words-were-met-with-silence-and-then-how-was-it-on-a/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) > [The shortest answer is doing the thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/the-shortest-answer-is-doing-the-thing/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“Memorize these two questions so you will not be tempted to answer any others:   Who are you? What are you doing right here,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-duane/memorize-these-two-questions-so-you-will-not-be-tempted-to-answer-any/) [James Duane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-duane/) > [“In secret we met In silence I grieve, That thy heart could forget, Thy spirit deceive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gordon-byron/in-secret-we-met-in-silence-i-grieve-that-thy-heart-could-forget-thy-2/) [George Gordon Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gordon-byron/) > [In secret we met - In silence I grieve, That thy heart could forget, Thy spirit deceive. If I should meet thee After long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-byron/in-secret-we-met-in-silence-i-grieve-that-thy-heart-could-forget-thy/) [Lord Byron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-byron/) > [“i don't do promises, when i said it i just do it!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luffy/i-don-t-do-promises-when-i-said-it-i-just-do-it/) Luffy > [“He said nothing, just pulled me down into his lap and wrapped his arms around me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruta-sepetys/he-said-nothing-just-pulled-me-down-into-his-lap-and-wrapped-his-arms/) [Ruta Sepetys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruta-sepetys/) > [“However…” he said. “Now see, that’s just a but with more meat on it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-annino/however-he-said-now-see-that-s-just-a-but-with-more-meat-on-it/) [Barbra Annino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-annino/) > [“What is it that I’m doing again?” “You know that already,” she said. “You just think that you don’t, but you do. It’s what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-m-danforth/what-is-it-that-i-m-doing-again-you-know-that-already-she-said-you/) [Emily M. Danforth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-m-danforth/) > [Nobody run off with her,” Roscoe said. "She just run off with herself, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/nobody-run-off-with-her-roscoe-said-she-just-run-off-with-herself-i/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [I said it, just like that. No stupid jokes, no changing the subject. For once, I wasn't embarrassed, because it was the truth. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kami-garcia/i-said-it-just-like-that-no-stupid-jokes-no-changing-the-subject-for/) [Kami Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kami-garcia/) > [“No one said anything. We all just looked up at the sky and we breathed out and in and we all thought the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/no-one-said-anything-we-all-just-looked-up-at-the-sky-and-we-breathed/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Everything that could be said already has; I'm just trying to say it differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hutchinson/everything-that-could-be-said-already-has-i-m-just-trying-to-say-it/) [Eric Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hutchinson/) ## More by Dante Alighieri > [In that part of the book of my memory before the which is little that can be read, there is a rubric, saying, Incipit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/in-that-part-of-the-book-of-my-memory-before-the-which-is-little-that/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“Be as a tower, that, firmly set, Shakes not its top for any blast that blows!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/be-as-a-tower-that-firmly-set-shakes-not-its-top-for-any-blast-that/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Pure essence, and pure matter, and the two joined into one were shot forth without flaw, like three bright arrows from a three-string bow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/pure-essence-and-pure-matter-and-the-two-joined-into-one-were-shot/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Into the eternal darkness, into fire and into ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/into-the-eternal-darkness-into-fire-and-into-ice/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [O power of fantasy that steals our minds from things outside, to leave us unaware, although a thousand trumpets may blow loud--what stirs you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/o-power-of-fantasy-that-steals-our-minds-from-things-outside-to-leave/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [The purpose of the whole (work) is to remove those who are living in this life from a state of wretchedness and lead them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/the-purpose-of-the-whole-work-is-to-remove-those-who-are-living-in/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“Noi leggeveamo un giorno per diletto Di Lancialotto, come amor lo strinse; Soli eravamo e senza alcun sospetto Per più fiate gli occhi ci…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/noi-leggeveamo-un-giorno-per-diletto-di-lancialotto-come-amor-lo/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Love can move the Sun and the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/love-can-move-the-sun-and-the-stars/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Oh foolish desires of mortals! How weak are the reasons that lead us to not take off our flight from the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/oh-foolish-desires-of-mortals-how-weak-are-the-reasons-that-lead-us/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [“On march the banners of the King of Hell.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/on-march-the-banners-of-the-king-of-hell/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Seldom indeed does human virtue rise From trunk to branch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/seldom-indeed-does-human-virtue-rise-from-trunk-to-branch/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [All hope abandon, ye who enter here!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/all-hope-abandon-ye-who-enter-here/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [We have no hope and yet we live in longing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/we-have-no-hope-and-yet-we-live-in-longing/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [Not one drop of blood is left inside my veins that does not throb: I recognize signs of the ancient flame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/not-one-drop-of-blood-is-left-inside-my-veins-that-does-not-throb-i/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [It is necessity and not pleasure that compels us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/it-is-necessity-and-not-pleasure-that-compels-us/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) [Explore all 414 Dante Alighieri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) ## More Silence quotes > [Let us have the luxury of silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/let-us-have-the-luxury-of-silence/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/) [Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/) > [I just can’t, Nick, okay? Now, please give me a second to lie here in silence and bleed.” – Caleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-just-can-t-nick-okay-now-please-give-me-a-second-to-lie-here-in/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/) [Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/) > [“A word is not filling in the gaps, but the fertilization of silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/a-word-is-not-filling-in-the-gaps-but-the-fertilization-of-silence/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [“I’m not like her. I don’t steal people.” Mr. Tibbalt watched her, saying nothing. The silence made Victoria bristle. “Well, I don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-legrand/i-m-not-like-her-i-don-t-steal-people-mr-tibbalt-watched-her-saying/) [Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/) > [Silence can be the world's strongest weapon in torturing people's emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/silence-can-be-the-world-s-strongest-weapon-in-torturing-people-s/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [“Proverbs from the East: The wind howls, but the mountain remains still. Even though I make no special attempt to observe the discipline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/proverbs-from-the-east-the-wind-howls-but-the-mountain-remains-still/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [“When all are one sentience, Language withers and fades away. Let's sit together and speak in silence, Let's be light to each other's way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-all-are-one-sentience-language-withers-and-fades-away-let-s-sit/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [True friendship is sitting together in silence and feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-friendship-is-sitting-together-in-silence-and-feeling-like-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“So what did God say to me in the silence that morning? I’m not sure, but I think God said something like, Don’t try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/so-what-did-god-say-to-me-in-the-silence-that-morning-i-m-not-sure/) [Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/) > [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [I suppose he'll just have to do," she amended. "You'll have to suffer in silence with your male model...I feel for you." "Oh, stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-adornetto/i-suppose-he-ll-just-have-to-do-she-amended-you-ll-have-to-suffer-in/) [Alexandra Adornetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-adornetto/) > [The silent majority is silent, and that is best for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-kocher/the-silent-majority-is-silent-and-that-is-best-for-everybody/) [Gerhard Kocher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-kocher/) > [“I once asked you what anxiety felt like, and you told me that most days left you riddled with bullet holes. Every morning came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-s/i-once-asked-you-what-anxiety-felt-like-and-you-told-me-that-most/) d.a.s [Browse all 8,731 Silence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The only answer that I give to you is doing it,\" he said. \"A just request is to be met in silence, by the act.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dante Alighieri" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/the-only-answer-that-i-give-to-you-is-doing-it-he-said-a-just-request/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Silence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/the-only-answer-that-i-give-to-you-is-doing-it-he-said-a-just-request/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/dante-alighieri-590_silence_the-only-answer-that-i-give-to-you-is-do_713607.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/dante-alighieri-590_silence_the-only-answer-that-i-give-to-you-is-do_713607.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/742/dante-alighieri-590_silence_the-only-answer-that-i-give-to-you-is-do_713607.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The only answer that I give to you is doing it,\" he said. \"A just request is to be met in silence, by the act.” — Dante Alighieri", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dante Alighieri", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The only answer that I give...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/the-only-answer-that-i-give-to-you-is-doing-it-he-said-a-just-request/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/the-only-answer-that-i-give-to-you-is-doing-it-he-said-a-just-request/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```