--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Break the ice, or draw that which lives…" description: "\"Break the ice, or draw that which lives in the dimness out into the full light of speech - what happens is the same: that which is now seen and now gra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/jens-peter-jacobsen-33997_break_break-the-ice-or-draw-that-which-lives-i_2495245.jpg" --- # Break the ice, or draw that which lives in the dimness out… ![“Break the ice, or draw that which lives in the dimness out into the full light of speech - what happens is the same: that which is now seen and now grasped is not, in its clearness, the shadowy thing that was.” quote by Jens Peter Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/jens-peter-jacobsen-33997_break_break-the-ice-or-draw-that-which-lives-i_2495245.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/jens-peter-jacobsen-33997_break_break-the-ice-or-draw-that-which-lives-i_2495245.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/jens-peter-jacobsen-33997_break_break-the-ice-or-draw-that-which-lives-i_2495245.jpg) > “Break the ice, or draw that which lives in the dimness out into the full light of speech - what happens is the same: that which is now seen and now grasped is not, in its clearness, the shadowy thing that was.” [Jens Peter Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-peter-jacobsen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When hidden truths are spoken, they become clear and lose their mysterious, shadowy quality. **In simple terms:** Speaking reveals and clarifies hidden things. Key Takeaway Speak truth to illuminate. Themes communication truth clarity Mood thoughtful reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - conflict resolution - creative writing Key Concepts phenomenology epistemology language theory Questions to Reflect On - How does speaking change perception? - When does silence preserve mystery? A Different Perspective Words may not fully capture nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) ## Related quotes > [Speech happens to not be his language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madame-de-stael/speech-happens-to-not-be-his-language/) [Madame de Stael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madame-de-stael/) > [“something to break… the ice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-emerson/something-to-break-the-ice/) [Marcus Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-emerson/) > [I can break the ice with people in no time. I think I can even make a wall talk to me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zareen-khan/i-can-break-the-ice-with-people-in-no-time-i-think-i-can-even-make-a/) [Zareen Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zareen-khan/) > [Holi is the apt time to break the ice, renew relationships and link yourself with those that you wanted to with a bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/holi-is-the-apt-time-to-break-the-ice-renew-relationships-and-link/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can get awkward. I am not the best person to break the ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaani-kapoor/i-can-get-awkward-i-am-not-the-best-person-to-break-the-ice/) [Vaani Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaani-kapoor/) > [“These are icebreakers. You’re not supposed to break the ice, you’re just supposed to coat your voice with as many layers of confidence as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kristian-flores/these-are-icebreakers-you-re-not-supposed-to-break-the-ice-you-re/) [Karl Kristian Flores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kristian-flores/) > [“Some people look like frozen lakes; break the ice, there you will see a lively world!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/some-people-look-like-frozen-lakes-break-the-ice-there-you-will-see-a/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The easiest time to be funny is during a fairly serious situation. That way you can break the ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/the-easiest-time-to-be-funny-is-during-a-fairly-serious-situation-2/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [“starters to help you break the ice and have you meeting more women, getting more dates, attracting and”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-diebel/starters-to-help-you-break-the-ice-and-have-you-meeting-more-women/) Don Diebel > [I think the simplest way to break the ice is probably to try playing on the same level, to discuss everything in normal life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frida-giannini/i-think-the-simplest-way-to-break-the-ice-is-probably-to-try-playing/) [Frida Giannini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frida-giannini/) > [Laughter is something that can be done at anytime, whether to break the ice, or to break the negative in any situation just enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/laughter-is-something-that-can-be-done-at-anytime-whether-to-break/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Live a crazy life but wanna treat a lady right, and once I have you I need you to make me fight. But first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/live-a-crazy-life-but-wanna-treat-a-lady-right-and-once-i-have-you-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sometimes in common relationships,i ts hard to break the Ice,so just look hot and you'll melt it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-leto/sometimes-in-common-relationships-i-ts-hard-to-break-the-ice-so-just/) [Shannon Leto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-leto/) > [I like to spend time with senior actors before going on set to break the ice. On set, I just look at them as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahir-raj-bhasin/i-like-to-spend-time-with-senior-actors-before-going-on-set-to-break/) [Tahir Raj Bhasin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahir-raj-bhasin/) > [“A humble heart, a friendly look, a smile on the face is really what you need to break the ice, not a very big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/a-humble-heart-a-friendly-look-a-smile-on-the-face-is-really-what-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) ## More by Jens Peter Jacobsen > [Haven't you noticed that we women daydream infinitely less than you men? We can't anticipate pleasure in our imagination or keep suffering out our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-peter-jacobsen/haven-t-you-noticed-that-we-women-daydream-infinitely-less-than-you/) [Jens Peter Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-peter-jacobsen/) > [“...he looked so strange and absentminded; quite obviously he had just been reading a book, one could tell that from the expression in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-peter-jacobsen/he-looked-so-strange-and-absentminded-quite-obviously-he-had-just/) [Jens Peter Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-peter-jacobsen/) > [Love is like a diamond; for as a diamond is beautiful to look upon, so is love fair, but as the diamond is poison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-peter-jacobsen/love-is-like-a-diamond-for-as-a-diamond-is-beautiful-to-look-upon-so/) [Jens Peter Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-peter-jacobsen/) > [“Know ye not that there is here in this world a secret confraternity, which one might call the Company of Melancholiacs? That people there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-peter-jacobsen/know-ye-not-that-there-is-here-in-this-world-a-secret-confraternity/) [Jens Peter Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-peter-jacobsen/) > [He was weary of himself, of cold ideas and brain dreams. Life a poem? 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No one can break your heart except you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-didn-t-break-my-heart-no-one-can-break-your-heart-except-you/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“She couldn't break the orbit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-schwab/she-couldn-t-break-the-orbit/) [Victoria Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-schwab/) > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Must I go bound while you go free Must I love a manwho doesn't love me Must I be born with so little art…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/must-i-go-bound-while-you-go-free-must-i-love-a-manwho-doesn-t-love/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I hadn't worked for a year when I had my Prison Break audition and it was the easiest audition I've ever had. I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wentworth-miller/i-hadn-t-worked-for-a-year-when-i-had-my-prison-break-audition-and-it/) [Wentworth Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wentworth-miller/) > [If you strike upon a thought that baffles you, break off from that entanglement and try another, so shall your wits be fresh to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristophanes/if-you-strike-upon-a-thought-that-baffles-you-break-off-from-that/) [Aristophanes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristophanes/) > [“A hole ain’t nothing either, but you can still break your neck in it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-donati/a-hole-ain-t-nothing-either-but-you-can-still-break-your-neck-in-it/) [Sara Donati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-donati/) > [“I break things, a lot of things, but I don’t want one of them to be you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/i-break-things-a-lot-of-things-but-i-don-t-want-one-of-them-to-be-you/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Motor racing's less of a sport these days than a commercial break doing 150 mph.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dunne/motor-racing-s-less-of-a-sport-these-days-than-a-commercial-break/) Peter Dunne > [Much like teaching art to young art students age 10 to 15 or so on, you have to break it down into bite-sized pieces,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kehinde-wiley/much-like-teaching-art-to-young-art-students-age-10-to-15-or-so-on/) [Kehinde Wiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kehinde-wiley/) > [The purpose is to be in gratitude forever. Live with applied consciousness, prosperity will break through the walls, flood you with it. You do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/the-purpose-is-to-be-in-gratitude-forever-live-with-applied/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [Never break another man's rice bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akio-morita/never-break-another-man-s-rice-bowl/) [Akio Morita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akio-morita/) Browse all 8,188 Break quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Break the ice, or draw that which lives in the dimness out into the full light of speech - what happens is the same: that which is now seen and now grasped is not, in its clearness, the shadowy thing that was.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jens Peter Jacobsen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-peter-jacobsen/break-the-ice-or-draw-that-which-lives-in-the-dimness-out-into-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Break" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-peter-jacobsen/break-the-ice-or-draw-that-which-lives-in-the-dimness-out-into-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/jens-peter-jacobsen-33997_break_break-the-ice-or-draw-that-which-lives-i_2495245.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/jens-peter-jacobsen-33997_break_break-the-ice-or-draw-that-which-lives-i_2495245.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d19/jens-peter-jacobsen-33997_break_break-the-ice-or-draw-that-which-lives-i_2495245.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Break the ice, or draw that which lives in the dimness out into the full light of speech - what happens is…” — Jens Peter Jacobsen", "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": "Jens Peter Jacobsen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-peter-jacobsen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Break the ice, or draw that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-peter-jacobsen/break-the-ice-or-draw-that-which-lives-in-the-dimness-out-into-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-peter-jacobsen/break-the-ice-or-draw-that-which-lives-in-the-dimness-out-into-the/#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 } } ] } ```