--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When at a loss how to go on, in speaking…" description: "\"When at a loss how to go on, in speaking, cough\" — Greek Proverb" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/greek-proverb-19419_cough_when-at-a-loss-how-to-go-on-in-speaking_2660308.jpg" --- # When at a loss how to go on, in speaking, cough ![“When at a loss how to go on, in speaking, cough” quote by Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/greek-proverb-19419_cough_when-at-a-loss-how-to-go-on-in-speaking_2660308.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/greek-proverb-19419_cough_when-at-a-loss-how-to-go-on-in-speaking_2660308.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/greek-proverb-19419_cough_when-at-a-loss-how-to-go-on-in-speaking_2660308.jpg) > “When at a loss how to go on, in speaking, cough” [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When speech fails, a cough can serve as a substitute to continue communication. **In simple terms:** Cough can fill a conversational gap. Key Takeaway Use non‑verbal cues when words fail. Themes communication verbal cough improvisation Mood lighthearted practical Type cultural humorous When to use this quote - public speaking - interviews - casual conversation - social gatherings Key Concepts speech anxiety social interaction Questions to Reflect On - When have you used a cough to buy time? - What other signals can replace words? A Different Perspective May be seen as rude in formal settings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cough/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Losing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing/) [Loss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss/) [Loss Speaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loss-speaking-853019/) [Speaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking/) [Speaking Cough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-cough-2422327/) ## Related quotes > [Rule number one is, make sure that you face the person with hearing loss when you are speaking to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-ross/rule-number-one-is-make-sure-that-you-face-the-person-with-hearing/) [Marion Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-ross/) > [“Love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/love-is-the-best-thing-in-the-world-except-for-cough-drops/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [“The first intimation I had that things were about to hot up was a pained and disapproving cough from the neighbourhood of the carpet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-3/the-first-intimation-i-had-that-things-were-about-to-hot-up-was-a/) [P G Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-3/) > [A small cold and cough can actually stop you from going where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-v-sindhu/a-small-cold-and-cough-can-actually-stop-you-from-going-where-you-are/) [P. V. Sindhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-v-sindhu/) > [“I’ve been sick too.” I faked a pathetic-sounding cough. “Must be something I caught last time I was here. Bastard Plague?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-mcadams/i-ve-been-sick-too-i-faked-a-pathetic-sounding-cough-must-be/) [Molly McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-mcadams/) > [I cough once and my parents arelike YOU ARENT MISSING SCHOOL TOMORROW!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-cough-once-and-my-parents-arelike-you-arent-missing-school-tomorrow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My doctor grabbed me by the wallet and said,'Cough'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/my-doctor-grabbed-me-by-the-wallet-and-said-cough/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [“Do rhinoceroses cough?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/do-rhinoceroses-cough/) [Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/) > [Love, and a cough, are not concealed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/love-and-a-cough-are-not-concealed/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [Sometimes I tic or twitch or cough, and it's a very public thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/sometimes-i-tic-or-twitch-or-cough-and-it-s-a-very-public-thing/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [He asked me if I was doing ok... I don't think he knew he would get this sort of response... // right now I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alla/he-asked-me-if-i-was-doing-ok-i-don-t-think-he-knew-he-would-get-this/) [Alla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alla/) > [“whenever someone asks him why he smokes, he inevitably answers: “Because I like to cough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/whenever-someone-asks-him-why-he-smokes-he-inevitably-answers-because/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [You can hit my father over the head with a chair and he won't wake up, but my mother, all you have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-hit-my-father-over-the-head-with-a-chair-and-he-won-t-wake-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Amazing Home Remedies: If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you will be afraid to cough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/amazing-home-remedies-if-you-have-a-bad-cough-take-a-large-dose-of/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) ## More by Greek Proverb > [All things good to know are difficult to learn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/all-things-good-to-know-are-difficult-to-learn/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [Who ceases to be a friend never was one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/who-ceases-to-be-a-friend-never-was-one/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [Success has many friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/success-has-many-friends/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [“A truth spoken before its time is dangerous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/a-truth-spoken-before-its-time-is-dangerous/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [My first wedding makes me proud in front of people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/my-first-wedding-makes-me-proud-in-front-of-people/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [Beneath this stone I lie, the famous woman who loosed her zone to one man only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/beneath-this-stone-i-lie-the-famous-woman-who-loosed-her-zone-to-one/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [Kindness begets kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/kindness-begets-kindness/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [Help yourself so God can help you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/help-yourself-so-god-can-help-you/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [But mortal bliss will never come sincere; Pleasure may lead, but grief blow brings up the rear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/but-mortal-bliss-will-never-come-sincere-pleasure-may-lead-but-grief/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [After the war, aid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/after-the-war-aid/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [Painless poverty is better than embittered wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/painless-poverty-is-better-than-embittered-wealth/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [As long as you have the blessing of your parents it does not matter even if you live in the mountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/as-long-as-you-have-the-blessing-of-your-parents-it-does-not-matter/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [The silence of a treacherous man is to be feared even more than his words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/the-silence-of-a-treacherous-man-is-to-be-feared-even-more-than-his/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [An open enemy is better than a false friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/an-open-enemy-is-better-than-a-false-friend/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) > [Poor in my youth, and in life's later scenes - Rich to no end, I curse my natal hour, Who naught enjoyed while young,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/poor-in-my-youth-and-in-life-s-later-scenes-rich-to-no-end-i-curse-my/) [Greek Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) [Explore all 32 Greek Proverb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/) ## More Cough quotes > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [Amazing Home Remedies: If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives, then you will be afraid to cough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/amazing-home-remedies-if-you-have-a-bad-cough-take-a-large-dose-of/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [You can hit my father over the head with a chair and he won't wake up, but my mother, all you have to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-hit-my-father-over-the-head-with-a-chair-and-he-won-t-wake-up/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“whenever someone asks him why he smokes, he inevitably answers: “Because I like to cough.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-auster/whenever-someone-asks-him-why-he-smokes-he-inevitably-answers-because/) [Paul Auster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-auster/) > [He asked me if I was doing ok... I don't think he knew he would get this sort of response... // right now I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alla/he-asked-me-if-i-was-doing-ok-i-don-t-think-he-knew-he-would-get-this/) [Alla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alla/) > [Sometimes I tic or twitch or cough, and it's a very public thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/sometimes-i-tic-or-twitch-or-cough-and-it-s-a-very-public-thing/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [Love, and a cough, are not concealed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/love-and-a-cough-are-not-concealed/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) > [“Do rhinoceroses cough?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eug-ne-ionesco/do-rhinoceroses-cough/) [Eugène Ionesco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eug-ne-ionesco/) > [My doctor grabbed me by the wallet and said,'Cough'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henny-youngman/my-doctor-grabbed-me-by-the-wallet-and-said-cough/) [Henny Youngman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henny-youngman/) > [I cough once and my parents arelike YOU ARENT MISSING SCHOOL TOMORROW!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-cough-once-and-my-parents-arelike-you-arent-missing-school-tomorrow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I’ve been sick too.” I faked a pathetic-sounding cough. “Must be something I caught last time I was here. Bastard Plague?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-mcadams/i-ve-been-sick-too-i-faked-a-pathetic-sounding-cough-must-be/) [Molly McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-mcadams/) > [A small cold and cough can actually stop you from going where you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-v-sindhu/a-small-cold-and-cough-can-actually-stop-you-from-going-where-you-are/) [P. V. Sindhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-v-sindhu/) > [“The first intimation I had that things were about to hot up was a pained and disapproving cough from the neighbourhood of the carpet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-3/the-first-intimation-i-had-that-things-were-about-to-hot-up-was-a/) [P G Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-3/) > [“Love is the best thing in the world, except for cough drops.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/love-is-the-best-thing-in-the-world-except-for-cough-drops/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) > [When I was a child, there were not that many vaccines. I was vaccinated for polio. I actually got measles as a child. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-i-was-a-child-there-were-not-that-many-vaccines-i-was-vaccinated/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 74 Cough quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cough/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When at a loss how to go on, in speaking, cough", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Greek Proverb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/when-at-a-loss-how-to-go-on-in-speaking-cough/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cough" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/when-at-a-loss-how-to-go-on-in-speaking-cough/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/greek-proverb-19419_cough_when-at-a-loss-how-to-go-on-in-speaking_2660308.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/greek-proverb-19419_cough_when-at-a-loss-how-to-go-on-in-speaking_2660308.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05d/greek-proverb-19419_cough_when-at-a-loss-how-to-go-on-in-speaking_2660308.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When at a loss how to go on, in speaking, cough” — Greek Proverb", "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": "Greek Proverb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greek-proverb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When at a loss how to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/when-at-a-loss-how-to-go-on-in-speaking-cough/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greek-proverb/when-at-a-loss-how-to-go-on-in-speaking-cough/#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 } } ] } ```