--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I ought not to speak about the dead…" description: "\"I ought not to speak about the dead because the dead are all over the place.\" — Harold Pinter" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/harold-pinter-3125_dead_i-ought-not-to-speak-about-the-dead-beca_3235151.png" --- # I ought not to speak about the dead because the dead are… ![“I ought not to speak about the dead because the dead are all over the place.” quote by Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/harold-pinter-3125_dead_i-ought-not-to-speak-about-the-dead-beca_3235151.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/harold-pinter-3125_dead_i-ought-not-to-speak-about-the-dead-beca_3235151.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/36c/harold-pinter-3125_dead_i-ought-not-to-speak-about-the-dead-beca_3235151.png) > “I ought not to speak about the dead because the dead are all over the place.” [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The dead are ever-present, so speaking of them is redundant and futile. **In simple terms:** The dead are everywhere, so talking about them is pointless. Key Takeaway Avoid unnecessary talk about the dead. Themes mortality communication silence Mood reflective somber Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - funeral eulogies - historical documentaries - family gatherings - memorial services Key Concepts existentialism absurdity Questions to Reflect On - How does remembering the dead shape our present? - When is it appropriate to speak of the dead? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of remembrance and learning from the past. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead/) [Dead Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-dead/) [Dead Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-place-6135592/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-speak-1009676/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak Dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-dead-959605/) ## Related quotes > [If there is any person to whom you feel a dislike, that is the person of whom you ought never to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/if-there-is-any-person-to-whom-you-feel-a-dislike-that-is-the-person/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [If there is a category of human being for whom his work ought to speak for itself, it is the writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/if-there-is-a-category-of-human-being-for-whom-his-work-ought-to/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [I was stupid enough to think that we ought to speak the truth about each person eulogised, and to make this the foundation, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/i-was-stupid-enough-to-think-that-we-ought-to-speak-the-truth-about/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Giving children the sense that you always ought to speak up for what's right, even if it costs you something, that's something you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-nussbaum/giving-children-the-sense-that-you-always-ought-to-speak-up-for-what/) [Martha Nussbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-nussbaum/) > [“All the deaths are dead for nothing but you're not dead at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-handler/all-the-deaths-are-dead-for-nothing-but-you-re-not-dead-at-all/) [daniel handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-handler/) > [“Oh, God,” Magnus said. “They’re dead. 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When we speak of the dead, we are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/witness-also-that-when-we-talk-about-literature-we-do-so-in-the/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) ## More by Harold Pinter > [I also found being called Sir rather silly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-also-found-being-called-sir-rather-silly/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [I saw Len Hutton in his prime, Another time, another time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/i-saw-len-hutton-in-his-prime-another-time-another-time/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [Nothing is more sterile or lamentable than the man content to live within himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-pinter/nothing-is-more-sterile-or-lamentable-than-the-man-content-to-live/) [Harold Pinter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-pinter/) > [“ I know the place I know the place. It is true. 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Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [It's a really dark, emotionally wrenching world that we've created on 'The Walking Dead.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-holden/it-s-a-really-dark-emotionally-wrenching-world-that-we-ve-created-on/) [Laurie Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-holden/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I’m just–” She wanted to say “not in the mood,” but that was not only a cliché but a vast understatement. She was dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-mcintosh/i-m-just-she-wanted-to-say-not-in-the-mood-but-that-was-not-only-a/) [Will McIntosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-mcintosh/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [When we dead awaken ... we see that we have never lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/when-we-dead-awaken-we-see-that-we-have-never-lived/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [Rather be dead than cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-cobain/rather-be-dead-than-cool/) [Kurt Cobain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-cobain/) > [He was obviously dead. But since he was a vampire that wasn't as hopless a thing as it might have been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-was-obviously-dead-but-since-he-was-a-vampire-that-wasn-t-as/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Ireland starts for me with the end of 'The Dead,' which my father read to me from his desk in his basement office in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/ireland-starts-for-me-with-the-end-of-the-dead-which-my-father-read/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.’ – Ben Franklin,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/three-may-keep-a-secret-if-two-of-them-are-dead-ben-franklin/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I intend to do the Penn & Teller show until they pry my cheesy magic wand from my cold dead fingers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/i-intend-to-do-the-penn-teller-show-until-they-pry-my-cheesy-magic/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > ['Misery' left a lasting mark on me. 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