--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, it's a funny thing. The only…" description: "\"“You know, it's a funny thing. The only Romance language Felipe doesn't happen to speak is Italian. But I go ahead and say it to him anyway, just as we..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/elizabeth-gilbert-131_speak-italian_you-know-it-s-a-funny-thing-the-only-rom_67819.jpg" --- # You know, it's a funny thing. The only Romance language… ![“You know, it's a funny thing. The only Romance language Felipe doesn't happen to speak is Italian. But I go ahead and say it to him anyway, just as we're about to jump. I say: 'Attraversiamo.' Let's cross over.” quote by Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/elizabeth-gilbert-131_speak-italian_you-know-it-s-a-funny-thing-the-only-rom_67819.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/elizabeth-gilbert-131_speak-italian_you-know-it-s-a-funny-thing-the-only-rom_67819.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d8/elizabeth-gilbert-131_speak-italian_you-know-it-s-a-funny-thing-the-only-rom_67819.jpg) > ““You know, it's a funny thing. The only Romance language Felipe doesn't happen to speak is Italian. But I go ahead and say it to him anyway, just as we're about to jump. I say: 'Attraversiamo.' Let's cross over.”” [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker playfully highlights a linguistic coincidence, using an Italian phrase to symbolize a shared leap into the unknown. **In simple terms:** A lighthearted nod to language and adventure. Key Takeaway Language can bridge moments of uncertainty. Themes humor language adventure culture shared experience Mood playful optimistic Type anecdotal philosophical When to use this quote - traveling with a partner - starting a new project - making a bold decision Key Concepts linguistic coincidence symbolic action Practical Applications - using foreign phrases to lighten tension - creating camaraderie through humor Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape our perception of risk? - What role does humor play in easing uncertainty? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Jump Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jump-say-899849/) [Language Felipe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-felipe-899848/) [Romance Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/romance-language-749437/) [Speak Italian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-italian-702492/) [Thing Romance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-romance-723534/) ## Related quotes > [I want to learn how to speak Italian. 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Blashfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-f-blashfield/) > [I thought why not write a kind of mystery, murder, thriller book, but use romance language where the language plays completely against the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/i-thought-why-not-write-a-kind-of-mystery-murder-thriller-book-but/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Here's the thing about romance novels: The moment when the hero and heroine discover that they're perfect for each other is often the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-maclean/here-s-the-thing-about-romance-novels-the-moment-when-the-hero-and/) [Sarah MacLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-maclean/) > [There's no such thing as adventure. There's no such thing as romance. There's only trouble and desire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-hartley/there-s-no-such-thing-as-adventure-there-s-no-such-thing-as-romance/) [Hal Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-hartley/) > [No, I was never that kind of guy. I believed in true romance; one-night stands are always going to leave you feeling cold and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-tatum/no-i-was-never-that-kind-of-guy-i-believed-in-true-romance-one-night/) [Channing Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-tatum/) > [Love is not blind. Romance is. Romance is the most dangerous thing. Romance is like an illusion. It shows you things, and you hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hrithik-roshan/love-is-not-blind-romance-is-romance-is-the-most-dangerous-thing/) [Hrithik Roshan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hrithik-roshan/) > [The thing we call romance is a diversion from something truer, which is life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamaica-kincaid/the-thing-we-call-romance-is-a-diversion-from-something-truer-which/) [Jamaica Kincaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamaica-kincaid/) > [We know romance novels are a huge thing. Can we do a romance novel show on our network? 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Orr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-l-orr/) > [“Shit. You've gotta be kidding! Didn't you jump your first day here?" "Second" Luke threw his arms up. "That makes so much more sense.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-r-willaston/shit-you-ve-gotta-be-kidding-didn-t-you-jump-your-first-day-here/) [H.R. Willaston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-r-willaston/) > [Get up, stand up, Stand up for your rights. Get up, stand up, Don't give up the fight.,Small minds cant comprehend big spirits. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katey/get-up-stand-up-stand-up-for-your-rights-get-up-stand-up-don-t-give/) [Katey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katey/) ## More by Elizabeth Gilbert > [That's your friend. My husband is my best friend. He's not the mirror that holds up my flaws. He's just the guy who's like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/that-s-your-friend-my-husband-is-my-best-friend-he-s-not-the-mirror/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Not to mention that I have finally arrived at that age where a woman starts to question whether the wisest way to get over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/not-to-mention-that-i-have-finally-arrived-at-that-age-where-a-woman/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“The Buddha taught that all human suffering is rooted in desire. Don't we all know this to be true? 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I had a sudden horrifying image of the woman I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/both-the-five-year-olds-looked-at-me-with-bewilderment-and-a-bit-of/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“Clearing out all your misery gets you out of the way. You cease being an obstacle, not only to yourself but to anyone else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/clearing-out-all-your-misery-gets-you-out-of-the-way-you-cease-being/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [The ingredients of both darkness and light are equally present in all of us,...The madness of this planet is largely a result of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/the-ingredients-of-both-darkness-and-light-are-equally-present-in-all/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I was full of a hot, powerful sadness and would have loved to burst into the comfort of tears, but tried hard not to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-was-full-of-a-hot-powerful-sadness-and-would-have-loved-to-burst/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“I live in nature where everything is connected, circular. The seasons are circular. The planet is circular, and so is the planet around the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-live-in-nature-where-everything-is-connected-circular-the-seasons/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“His spelling was several degrees beyond arbitrary, and his punctuation brought reason to sigh with unhappiness. But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/his-spelling-was-several-degrees-beyond-arbitrary-and-his-punctuation/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [Before you realize this truth, say the Yogis, you will always be in despair, a notion nicely expressed in this exasperated line from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/before-you-realize-this-truth-say-the-yogis-you-will-always-be-in/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [I actually have a great deal of respect for antidepressants; I think they can be enormously mighty tools toward recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-actually-have-a-great-deal-of-respect-for-antidepressants-i-think/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) [Explore all 1,156 Elizabeth Gilbert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) ## More Speak Italian quotes > [I always say to young people, "Get the hell out of the United States." Especially if you're young, like if you're 21 or something.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/i-always-say-to-young-people-get-the-hell-out-of-the-united-states/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [I can't speak much Italian. I do go down well over there, but it's frustrating because I can't really speak it. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-nutini/i-can-t-speak-much-italian-i-do-go-down-well-over-there-but-it-s/) [Paolo Nutini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-nutini/) > [I don't speak Italian, but I do speak Moschino.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scott/i-don-t-speak-italian-but-i-do-speak-moschino/) [Jeremy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scott/) > [I was always, and I still am to a certain extent, one of those lazy people who spends a lot of time with Italian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tilda-swinton/i-was-always-and-i-still-am-to-a-certain-extent-one-of-those-lazy/) [Tilda Swinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tilda-swinton/) > [When I go to Colombia or Mexico, I speak Spanish. When I go to Italy, I speak Italian. When I'm in Germany, I speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trish-regan/when-i-go-to-colombia-or-mexico-i-speak-spanish-when-i-go-to-italy-i/) [Trish Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trish-regan/) > [I used to speak Italian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anitta/i-used-to-speak-italian/) [Anitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anitta/) > [I speak Italian and a little bit of French. I moved to Trento, Italy, when I was around 10 to learn Italian. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eiza-gonzalez/i-speak-italian-and-a-little-bit-of-french-i-moved-to-trento-italy/) [Eiza Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eiza-gonzalez/) > [I speak Italian, French, Creole and English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meta-golding/i-speak-italian-french-creole-and-english/) [Meta Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meta-golding/) > [I have played an Italian woman before but for that I had to speak in Italian, This was the first time I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/i-have-played-an-italian-woman-before-but-for-that-i-had-to-speak-in/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [I speak for all Italian industry that India is number one priority for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luca-cordero-di-montezemolo/i-speak-for-all-italian-industry-that-india-is-number-one-priority/) [Luca Cordero di Montezemolo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luca-cordero-di-montezemolo/) > [I am still around too many Italian people to start speaking like a guy from London. I live in Italy for six months of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gino-d-acampo/i-am-still-around-too-many-italian-people-to-start-speaking-like-a/) [Gino D'Acampo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gino-d-acampo/) > [I want to learn how to speak Italian. For years, I'd wished I could speak Italian--a language I find more beautiful than roses :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/i-want-to-learn-how-to-speak-italian-for-years-i-d-wished-i-could/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [“You speak Italian," she says, unconvinced. "Si." "Say something." "Sii la mia schiava d'amore," I purr. Her expression is guarded. 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