--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nothing you say can ensure that the other…" description: "\"Nothing you say can ensure that the other person will get it, or respond the way you want. You may never exceed his threshold of deafness.\" — Harriet L..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56d/harriet-lerner-4248_deafness_nothing-you-say-can-ensure-that-the-othe_126943.jpg" --- # Nothing you say can ensure that the other person will get… ![“Nothing you say can ensure that the other person will get it, or respond the way you want. You may never exceed his threshold of deafness.” quote by Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56d/harriet-lerner-4248_deafness_nothing-you-say-can-ensure-that-the-othe_126943.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56d/harriet-lerner-4248_deafness_nothing-you-say-can-ensure-that-the-othe_126943.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/56d/harriet-lerner-4248_deafness_nothing-you-say-can-ensure-that-the-othe_126943.jpg) > “Nothing you say can ensure that the other person will get it, or respond the way you want. You may never exceed his threshold of deafness.” [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Communication can fail; you may never reach the other’s understanding or desired response. **In simple terms:** You may never be understood as you intend. Key Takeaway Accept limits of communication. Themes communication relationships misunderstanding Mood thoughtful cautious Type advice observational When to use this quote - personal relationships - teamwork - customer service Key Concepts empathy active listening Practical Applications - practice clear, empathetic dialogue Questions to Reflect On - How can you test if you’re understood? - What strategies improve mutual comprehension? A Different Perspective Even clear messages can be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“I have found the best way to deal with a toxic person is to not respond in any other way than monotone voice and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-grice/i-have-found-the-best-way-to-deal-with-a-toxic-person-is-to-not/) Jen Grice > [“I shook my head. She didn’t respond. “See, the way phone conversations work, is that you actually have to say the words out loud.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-monroe/i-shook-my-head-she-didn-t-respond-see-the-way-phone-conversations/) [Max Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-monroe/) > [I think I'm a pretty average person, and I respond to positive things, so I write for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-think-i-m-a-pretty-average-person-and-i-respond-to-positive-things/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [“I think that in many cases people tend to expect the other person to respond to them in a positive way first, rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-think-that-in-many-cases-people-tend-to-expect-the-other-person-to/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [In California, up to 15 percent of wells in agricultural areas exceed a federal contaminant threshold, according to studies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-duhigg/in-california-up-to-15-percent-of-wells-in-agricultural-areas-exceed/) [Charles Duhigg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-duhigg/) > [There comes a time when the pain of continuing exceeds the pain of stopping. At that moment, a threshold is crossed. What seemed unthinkable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/there-comes-a-time-when-the-pain-of-continuing-exceeds-the-pain-of/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [If an institution has become so large that there is no alternative except for the taxpayers to provide support, should we allow so many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-bair/if-an-institution-has-become-so-large-that-there-is-no-alternative/) Sheila Bair > [When the pain of continuing exceeds the pain of stopping, a threshold is crossed. What seemed unthinkable becomes thinkable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/when-the-pain-of-continuing-exceeds-the-pain-of-stopping-a-threshold/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [“Or you may be such a thunderingly exalted creature as to be altogether deaf and blind to anything but heavenly sights and sounds. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/or-you-may-be-such-a-thunderingly-exalted-creature-as-to-be/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [Old age doth in sharp pains abound; We are belabored by the gout, Our blindness is a dark profound, Our deafness each one laughs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/old-age-doth-in-sharp-pains-abound-we-are-belabored-by-the-gout-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For he who is not deaf, half a silence is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/for-he-who-is-not-deaf-half-a-silence-is-enough/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [I like to say that the greatest handicap of deafness does not lie in the ear, it lies in the mind. I hope that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-like-to-say-that-the-greatest-handicap-of-deafness-does-not-lie-in/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/blindness-separates-us-from-things-but-deafness-separates-us-from/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [But people who think they can project themselves into deafness are mistaken because you can't. And I'm not talking about imagining what a deaf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-masur/but-people-who-think-they-can-project-themselves-into-deafness-are/) [Richard Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-masur/) > [“And the blind man said to the deaf man, "Do you see what I hear?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/and-the-blind-man-said-to-the-deaf-man-do-you-see-what-i-hear/) [Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/) ## More by Harriet Lerner > [“Letting go of anger and hate requires us to give up the hope for a different past, along with the hope of a fantasized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/letting-go-of-anger-and-hate-requires-us-to-give-up-the-hope-for-a/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“There’s a widespread belief that if you have solid self-esteem you don’t need outside affirmation and praise. This is patently untrue, by the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/there-s-a-widespread-belief-that-if-you-have-solid-self-esteem-you/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [It is an act of courage to acknowledge our own uncertainty and sit with it for a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/it-is-an-act-of-courage-to-acknowledge-our-own-uncertainty-and-sit/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Silence can pose a greater threat than the difficult truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/silence-can-pose-a-greater-threat-than-the-difficult-truth/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [If you exchanged wedding vows, tape them to your bathroom mirror and read them aloud to yourself every morning along with the ritual brushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-you-exchanged-wedding-vows-tape-them-to-your-bathroom-mirror-and/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Kids want nothing more than for all the important adults in their life to get along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/kids-want-nothing-more-than-for-all-the-important-adults-in-their/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“People's sense of self worth is pivotal to their ability to look clearly at the hurt they've caused. The more solid one's sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/people-s-sense-of-self-worth-is-pivotal-to-their-ability-to-look/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Being able to make a sincere apology - one that says, "Yes, I get it; I screwed up. Your feelings make sense, and I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/being-able-to-make-a-sincere-apology-one-that-says-yes-i-get-it-i/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [“Everyone freaks out. Sometimes the best we can do with fear is befriend it. Expect it and understand that fear will always reappear. Eventually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/everyone-freaks-out-sometimes-the-best-we-can-do-with-fear-is/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [The bolder and more courageous you are, the more you will learn about yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/the-bolder-and-more-courageous-you-are-the-more-you-will-learn-about/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Underground issues from one relationship or context invariably fuel our fires in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/underground-issues-from-one-relationship-or-context-invariably-fuel/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [There are some things for which there is no apology, and on the question of slavery, there is no adequate apology for ripping people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/there-are-some-things-for-which-there-is-no-apology-and-on-the/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Don't count on the power of your love or your nagging to create something that wasn't there to begin with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/don-t-count-on-the-power-of-your-love-or-your-nagging-to-create/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [If we only listened with the same passion that we feel about being heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/if-we-only-listened-with-the-same-passion-that-we-feel-about-being/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) > [Telling a true story about personal experience is not just a matter of being oneself, or even or finding oneself. It is also a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-lerner/telling-a-true-story-about-personal-experience-is-not-just-a-matter/) [Harriet Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) [Explore all 113 Harriet Lerner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-lerner/) ## More Deafness quotes > [“And the blind man said to the deaf man, "Do you see what I hear?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gerard-trotman/and-the-blind-man-said-to-the-deaf-man-do-you-see-what-i-hear/) [Wayne Gerard Trotman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gerard-trotman/) > [But people who think they can project themselves into deafness are mistaken because you can't. And I'm not talking about imagining what a deaf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-masur/but-people-who-think-they-can-project-themselves-into-deafness-are/) [Richard Masur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-masur/) > [Blindness separates us from things but deafness separates us from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/blindness-separates-us-from-things-but-deafness-separates-us-from/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) > [I like to say that the greatest handicap of deafness does not lie in the ear, it lies in the mind. I hope that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-like-to-say-that-the-greatest-handicap-of-deafness-does-not-lie-in/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [For he who is not deaf, half a silence is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-malfatti/for-he-who-is-not-deaf-half-a-silence-is-enough/) [Jean-Paul Malfatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-malfatti/) > [Old age doth in sharp pains abound; We are belabored by the gout, Our blindness is a dark profound, Our deafness each one laughs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/old-age-doth-in-sharp-pains-abound-we-are-belabored-by-the-gout-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Or you may be such a thunderingly exalted creature as to be altogether deaf and blind to anything but heavenly sights and sounds. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/or-you-may-be-such-a-thunderingly-exalted-creature-as-to-be/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [There are many deaf people who couldn't imagine living in a marriage without someone who doesn't speak their language. For me, I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/there-are-many-deaf-people-who-couldn-t-imagine-living-in-a-marriage/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [A fundamental requirement, overriding any other for this job, is an understanding of deafness-what it is and how it affects the educational experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-fundamental-requirement-overriding-any-other-for-this-job-is-an/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [I hope I inspire people who hear. Hearing people have the ability to remove barriers that prevent deaf people from achieving their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/i-hope-i-inspire-people-who-hear-hearing-people-have-the-ability-to/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [The late Président de Montesquieu told me that he knew how to be blind--he had been so for such a long time--but I swear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/the-late-pr-sident-de-montesquieu-told-me-that-he-knew-how-to-be/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [Deafness produces bizarre effects, reversing the natural order of things; the interchange of letters is the conversation of the deaf, and the only link…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/deafness-produces-bizarre-effects-reversing-the-natural-order-of/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [The only thing I can't do is hear. I can drive, I have a life with four kids, I work on TV, I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlee-matlin/the-only-thing-i-can-t-do-is-hear-i-can-drive-i-have-a-life-with-four/) [Marlee Matlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlee-matlin/) > [I think the deafness affects me more than I realise I think it makes me more tired. I loathe parties. I attend, smile and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-beacham/i-think-the-deafness-affects-me-more-than-i-realise-i-think-it-makes/) [Stephanie Beacham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-beacham/) > [“Does sound have rhythm? Does it rise and fall like the ocean? Does sound come and go like wind?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myron-uhlberg/does-sound-have-rhythm-does-it-rise-and-fall-like-the-ocean-does/) Myron Uhlberg Browse all 111 Deafness quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Nothing you say can ensure that the other person will get it, or respond the way you want. 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