---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the silences we have on some…"
description: "\"I think the silences we have on some issues are inductive of the fact that we need to write about them more, but I think there are some issues you have..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/irvine-welsh-843_alone_i-think-the-silences-we-have-on-some-iss_3164893.png"
---

#  I think the silences we have on some issues are inductive…

![“I think the silences we have on some issues are inductive of the fact that we need to write about them more, but I think there are some issues you have to write in a sensitive way and in a way that respects the reality of the situation. If you can't do that, you should leave them alone.” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/irvine-welsh-843_alone_i-think-the-silences-we-have-on-some-iss_3164893.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/irvine-welsh-843_alone_i-think-the-silences-we-have-on-some-iss_3164893.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/irvine-welsh-843_alone_i-think-the-silences-we-have-on-some-iss_3164893.png)

> “I think the silences we have on some issues are inductive of the fact that we need to write about them more, but I think there are some issues you have to write in a sensitive way and in a way that respects the reality of the situation. If you can't do that, you should leave them alone.”

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Silence on sensitive topics signals a need for careful writing; if one cannot respect the reality, they should refrain from speaking.

**In simple terms:** Sensitive topics need respectful writing; otherwise stay silent.

Key Takeaway

Write responsibly or stay silent.

Themes

ethics communication responsibility sensitivity

Mood

thoughtful cautious

Type

ethical literary

When to use this quote

- journalism
- creative writing
- public discourse

Key Concepts

censorship authenticity respect silence

Questions to Reflect On

- When is silence a moral duty?
- How to balance truth and sensitivity?

A Different Perspective

Risk of self-censorship limiting truth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Issues Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/issues-write-3634940/) [Leave Them Alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leave-them-alone/) [Need Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-write/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Silences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silences/) [Silences Issues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silences-issues-5736248/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Think Silences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-silences-5736249/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/)

## Related quotes

> [I write and speak about personal and spiritual growth. One week I write about illness and another week I speak about relationships and another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-write-and-speak-about-personal-and-spiritual-growth-one-week-i/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [“Do you want a heads-up when Luce and Daniel have their first date?" Annabelle asked. Miles pointed down to Earth. "Aren't we supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/do-you-want-a-heads-up-when-luce-and-daniel-have-their-first-date/)

[Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/)

> [When taxes are too high, people go hungry. When the government is too intrusive, people lose their spirit. Act for the people's benefit. Trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-taxes-are-too-high-people-go-hungry-when-the-government-is-too/)

[Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/)

> [“The best thing you can do about the wild horses is to leave them alone! Leave the wild life alone, then you will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-best-thing-you-can-do-about-the-wild-horses-is-to-leave-them/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“Every time something really bad happens, people cry out for safety, and the government answers by taking rights away from good people. We have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/every-time-something-really-bad-happens-people-cry-out-for-safety-and/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Leave people alone when they tell you to leave them alone. If they mean it, they need it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ventura/leave-people-alone-when-they-tell-you-to-leave-them-alone-if-they/)

[Michael Ventura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ventura/)

> [“What is to become of us? How are we to feed our poor children, when we no longer have anything even for ourselves?” “I’ll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-grimm/what-is-to-become-of-us-how-are-we-to-feed-our-poor-children-when-we/)

[Jacob Grimm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-grimm/)

> [“It didn't exactly depress me to think about it, but it didn't make me feel gay as hell either. Certain things should stay the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/it-didn-t-exactly-depress-me-to-think-about-it-but-it-didn-t-make-me/)

[J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/)

> [“Have I added to their building blocks, shoring them up with strength and their own magnificence? Have I shown them enough color? Did I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-kiros/have-i-added-to-their-building-blocks-shoring-them-up-with-strength/)

[Tessa Kiros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-kiros/)

> [Highly educated young people are tutored, taught and monitored in all aspects of their lives, except the most important, which is character building. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/highly-educated-young-people-are-tutored-taught-and-monitored-in-all/)

[David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/)

> [No matter who your true frends are, leave them alone because you've got sisters,if u know it or not! I always think of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-preston/no-matter-who-your-true-frends-are-leave-them-alone-because-you-ve/)

[Trinity Preston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-preston/)

> [People have a lot on their plate so either leave them a smile or leave them alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-penney/people-have-a-lot-on-their-plate-so-either-leave-them-a-smile-or/)

[Keith Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-penney/)

> [The person who tries to keep everyone happy is always the most lonely person, so never leave them alone because they will never say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/the-person-who-tries-to-keep-everyone-happy-is-always-the-most-lonely/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [I always find that the best collaborations are when you work with people that know what they're doing, and you leave them alone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twyla-tharp/i-always-find-that-the-best-collaborations-are-when-you-work-with/)

[Twyla Tharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twyla-tharp/)

> [Sometimes the person who tries to keep others happy is the most lonely person. Never leave them alone because they will never say they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bubbly/sometimes-the-person-who-tries-to-keep-others-happy-is-the-most/)

[Bubbly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bubbly/)

## More by Irvine Welsh

> [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [He emphasised basic truths: you are not dying yet, you have to live your life until you are. Underpinning them was the belief that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/he-emphasised-basic-truths-you-are-not-dying-yet-you-have-to-live/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [“Without this kickstart to my day, I'd be lost. A day without a morning run is a day you fumble through, rather than one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/without-this-kickstart-to-my-day-i-d-be-lost-a-day-without-a-morning/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [“There's nae reasoning wi some cats. You say 'reason', they mew 'treason'. Ken?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nae-reasoning-wi-some-cats-you-say-reason-they-mew-treason-ken/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [It's crazy for somebody who's kind of empowered and wealthy like myself to say, "Oh, I don't need to be patronized by the state,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/it-s-crazy-for-somebody-who-s-kind-of-empowered-and-wealthy-like/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [When you go away, you see where you come from in a different light. I see Scotland, and the rest of Britain, as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/when-you-go-away-you-see-where-you-come-from-in-a-different-light-i/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [If it's something that I feel uncomfortable with, that's a reason for me to write it. I kind of like to make myself feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-it-s-something-that-i-feel-uncomfortable-with-that-s-a-reason-for/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [There's nothing worse than a violent beating from an unremarkable person. Physical violence with someone is too much like shagging them. Too much id…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-violent-beating-from-an-unremarkable/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [If I stop working and publishing, and TV, and film and all that, I would be dead within a couple of weeks. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-i-stop-working-and-publishing-and-tv-and-film-and-all-that-i-would/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [I can see why the Russians love Robert Burns, I think that Russians and Koreans have a very similar outlook to Scots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-can-see-why-the-russians-love-robert-burns-i-think-that-russians/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [If you continue to transfer the wealth of the population of the planet to a very small amount of people, it becomes untenable at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/if-you-continue-to-transfer-the-wealth-of-the-population-of-the/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [Most middle-class people I know don't really live like me. Middle-class people worry a lot about money. They worry a lot about job security,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/most-middle-class-people-i-know-don-t-really-live-like-me-middle/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [As soon as you've written it, you're thinking about how it can move into different mediums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/as-soon-as-you-ve-written-it-you-re-thinking-about-how-it-can-move/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [“Begbie doesnae even notice; he's in his element, particularly good at funerals in the way a lot ay psychopaths tend tae be. Ah suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/begbie-doesnae-even-notice-he-s-in-his-element-particularly-good-at/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

> [I'm more of a warrior than you'll ever be. I believe in the class war. I believe in the battle of the sexes. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-m-more-of-a-warrior-than-you-ll-ever-be-i-believe-in-the-class-war/)

[Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

[Explore all 348 Irvine Welsh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/)

## More Alone quotes

> [I can be taken away from myself quite easily, I kind of start betraying myself and compromising my integrity, to keep someone else happy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-lou-wood/i-can-be-taken-away-from-myself-quite-easily-i-kind-of-start/)

[Aimee Lou Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-lou-wood/)

> [Perhaps our own opposition to even the level of European integration we have now, let alone any more, is well known.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/perhaps-our-own-opposition-to-even-the-level-of-european-integration/)

[Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/)

> [If your goal is to look different, you'll see results faster with strength training than with cardio alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kaiser/if-your-goal-is-to-look-different-you-ll-see-results-faster-with/)

[Anna Kaiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kaiser/)

> [With my songs, the question is always, 'Can you pull it off live, alone on just an acoustic guitar?' That's the litmus test. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-colvin/with-my-songs-the-question-is-always-can-you-pull-it-off-live-alone/)

[Shawn Colvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-colvin/)

> [I should have liked to get married, but over many decades I have lived essentially alone. I go to sleep when I'm tired, get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/i-should-have-liked-to-get-married-but-over-many-decades-i-have-lived/)

[Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/)

> [I am not alone in that I've had times of unemployment - unemployment is huge amongst disabled people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-jones/i-am-not-alone-in-that-i-ve-had-times-of-unemployment-unemployment-is/)

[Rosie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-jones/)

> [I never knew a heart could feel so cold so empty so broken until now , I don't know what to say I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-knew-a-heart-could-feel-so-cold-so-empty-so-broken-until-now/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you're disabled or different from what general society deems normal, it's fine. There will always be people who won't accept you, but there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-simmonds/if-you-re-disabled-or-different-from-what-general-society-deems/)

[Millicent Simmonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-simmonds/)

> [Real love is a permanently self-enlarging experience…A Journey With My Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luckybannu/real-love-is-a-permanently-self-enlarging-experience-a-journey-with/)

[Luckybannu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luckybannu/)

> [“What I'm trying to say is that I spent the last four months learning to be alone, avoiding the world, hating pretty much anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-cremer/what-i-m-trying-to-say-is-that-i-spent-the-last-four-months-learning/)

[Andrea Cremer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-cremer/)

> [I'm used to being alone in a quiet, isolated environment - I'm kind of a low-energy, low-vibration, low-stamina person to begin with - so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ethel-cain/i-m-used-to-being-alone-in-a-quiet-isolated-environment-i-m-kind-of-a/)

[Ethel Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ethel-cain/)

> [“When I look back at myself at age twenty, what I remember most is being alone and lonely. I had no girlfriend to warm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/when-i-look-back-at-myself-at-age-twenty-what-i-remember-most-is/)

[Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/)

> [I have developed a nasty habit of losing to the guy who wins the tournament, and that alone makes you think what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-robertson/i-have-developed-a-nasty-habit-of-losing-to-the-guy-who-wins-the/)

[Neil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-robertson/)

> [As a child, I was this record collector/listener that would sit in a room and listen to the entire Beatles catalog alone, over and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/as-a-child-i-was-this-record-collector-listener-that-would-sit-in-a/)

[Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/)

> [How one hates to think of oneself as alone. How one avoids it. It seems to imply rejection or unpopularity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/how-one-hates-to-think-of-oneself-as-alone-how-one-avoids-it-it-seems/)

[Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

[Browse all 3,082 Alone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alone/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think the silences we have on some issues are inductive of the fact that we need to write about them more, but I think there are some issues you have to write in a sensitive way and in a way that respects the reality of the situation. If you can't do that, you should leave them alone.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Irvine Welsh"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-think-the-silences-we-have-on-some-issues-are-inductive-of-the-fact/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Alone"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-think-the-silences-we-have-on-some-issues-are-inductive-of-the-fact/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/irvine-welsh-843_alone_i-think-the-silences-we-have-on-some-iss_3164893.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/irvine-welsh-843_alone_i-think-the-silences-we-have-on-some-iss_3164893.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/da4/irvine-welsh-843_alone_i-think-the-silences-we-have-on-some-iss_3164893.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think the silences we have on some issues are inductive of the fact that we need to write about them more…” — Irvine Welsh",
                "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": "Irvine Welsh",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think the silences we have...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-think-the-silences-we-have-on-some-issues-are-inductive-of-the-fact/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-think-the-silences-we-have-on-some-issues-are-inductive-of-the-fact/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
