Living room Quote by Delphine de Vigan
““Before I met No I thought that violence meant shouting and hitting and war and blood. Now I know that there can also be violence in silence and that it’s sometimes invisible to the naked eye. There’s violence in the time that conceals wounds, the relentless succession of days, the impossibility of turning back the clock. Violence is what escapes us. It’s silent and hidden. Violence is what remains inexplicable, what stays forever opaque... My mother stands there at the living room door with her arms by her sides. And I think that there's violence in that too - in her inability to reach out to me, to make the gesture which is impossible and so forever suspended.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Children’s Book, Delphine de Vigan, 2021
Violence can be silent, hidden in everyday in, and persists beyond visible conflict.
In simple terms: Silence can be a form of violence, lingering and unseen.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and address hidden emotional harm.
Themes
silence
psychological harm
invisibility
family dynamics
Mood
somber
introspective
Type
psychological
emotional
When to use this quote
- family relationships
- mental health
- long‑term emotional impact
Key Concepts
emotional abuse
latent trauma
Questions to Reflect On
- What silent hurts are ignored in your life?
- How can we make invisible pain visible?
A Different Perspective
Silence may also be a coping mechanism for some.
![“When we use the word domestic [terrorism], we discount its actual impact as political terrorism, which is, of course, political violence meant to impact an audience outside of the immediate victims.” quote by Malcolm Wrightson Nance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/902/malcolm-wrightson-nance-31069_audience_when-we-use-the-word-domestic-terrorism_2363737.jpg)
