---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She tried to decide whether the silence…"
description: "\"“She tried to decide whether the silence was an empty one or a waiting one.”\" — Jodi Lynn Anderson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/jodi-lynn-anderson-2517_silence_she-tried-to-decide-whether-the-silence_1173654.jpg"
---

#  She tried to decide whether the silence was an empty one…

![“She tried to decide whether the silence was an empty one or a waiting one.” quote by Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/jodi-lynn-anderson-2517_silence_she-tried-to-decide-whether-the-silence_1173654.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/jodi-lynn-anderson-2517_silence_she-tried-to-decide-whether-the-silence_1173654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/jodi-lynn-anderson-2517_silence_she-tried-to-decide-whether-the-silence_1173654.jpg)

> ““She tried to decide whether the silence was an empty one or a waiting one.””

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

## About This Quote

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

The narrator wonders if silence is empty or anticipatory, reflecting on uncertainty and expectation.

**In simple terms:** Questioning whether silence holds emptiness or anticipation.

Key Takeaway

Consider what silence might be signaling.

Themes

uncertainty anticipation silence

Mood

contemplative curious

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal reflection
- creative writing
- meditation

Key Concepts

psychology perception interpretation

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you interpret quiet moments?
- What expectations do you attach to silence?

A Different Perspective

Silence can be ambiguous and may mislead.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Decide Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-silence-3412657/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Silence Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence-waiting-3412656/) [Tried Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tried-decide-1243318/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/)

## Related quotes

> [The immortal silence is there always waiting for you and that spirit is deathless and courageous. Remember, many have trod the path that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-immortal-silence-is-there-always-waiting-for-you-and-that-spirit/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“Very Nice to meet you all" They all floated in silence as if waiting on something when it dawned on me that they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fisher-amelie/very-nice-to-meet-you-all-they-all-floated-in-silence-as-if-waiting/)

[Fisher Amelie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fisher-amelie/)

> [Advent is a time of waiting, of expectation, of silence. Waiting for our Lord to be born. A pregnant woman is so happy, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-day/advent-is-a-time-of-waiting-of-expectation-of-silence-waiting-for-our/)

[Dorothy Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-day/)

> [“I tried to decide just how I should respond to them. Whether I should act like the teacher that I was, or like the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-j-gaines/i-tried-to-decide-just-how-i-should-respond-to-them-whether-i-should/)

[Ernest J. Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-j-gaines/)

> [“You’d kiss me back right now if I kissed you,” he said, and I tried to decide whether to even attempt denial. “But then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-hildenbrand/you-d-kiss-me-back-right-now-if-i-kissed-you-he-said-and-i-tried-to/)

[Heather Hildenbrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-hildenbrand/)

> [Sometimes I caught myself Lookin' in the mirror With my eyeballs out And I'm lookin' at the fear In the bottom of the drain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cage-the-elephant/sometimes-i-caught-myself-lookin-in-the-mirror-with-my-eyeballs-out/)

[Cage The Elephant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cage-the-elephant/)

> [I tried to decide each case based on the law and the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/i-tried-to-decide-each-case-based-on-the-law-and-the-constitution/)

[Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/)

> [Last night I went to sleep, wanted more tried to decide what direction I should go towards some nights I wish could go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/last-night-i-went-to-sleep-wanted-more-tried-to-decide-what-direction/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [It is moonlight. Alone in the silence I ascend my stairs once more, While waves remote in pale blue starlight Crash on a white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conrad-aiken/it-is-moonlight-alone-in-the-silence-i-ascend-my-stairs-once-more/)

[Conrad Aiken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conrad-aiken/)

> [I don't think of myself as a great improver. A lot of times there's long periods of silence when everyone in the recording studio…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-black/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-great-improver-a-lot-of-times-there-s/)

[Jack Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-black/)

> [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/)

[Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/)

> [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [I just can’t, Nick, okay? Now, please give me a second to lie here in silence and bleed.” – Caleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-just-can-t-nick-okay-now-please-give-me-a-second-to-lie-here-in/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“A word is not filling in the gaps, but the fertilization of silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/a-word-is-not-filling-in-the-gaps-but-the-fertilization-of-silence/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

> [Let us have the luxury of silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/let-us-have-the-luxury-of-silence/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

## More by Jodi Lynn Anderson

> [“She felt the warmth of Peter's arm under her neck, and it almost felt like he was an extension of her, and like if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/she-felt-the-warmth-of-peter-s-arm-under-her-neck-and-it-almost-felt/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“We should have a funeral," he said. Pan held his hands clasped in a tent on his lap, and he bowed his head. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/we-should-have-a-funeral-he-said-pan-held-his-hands-clasped-in-a-tent/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“Birdie, this is for adults to figure out.” Birdie planted her feet where she stood. “I am an adult.” Walter shook his head. “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/birdie-this-is-for-adults-to-figure-out-birdie-planted-her-feet-where/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [I knew I'd miss you. But the surprising thing is, you never leave me. I never forget a thing. Every kind of love, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/i-knew-i-d-miss-you-but-the-surprising-thing-is-you-never-leave-me-i/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“Many people in the village wanted her to be more of a girl, and Peter had wanted her to be large and brave but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/many-people-in-the-village-wanted-her-to-be-more-of-a-girl-and-peter/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“How can I describe Peter's face, the pieces of him that stick to my heart? Peter sometimes looked aloof and distant; sometimes his face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/how-can-i-describe-peter-s-face-the-pieces-of-him-that-stick-to-my/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“Leeda knew friends never turned out to be what you expected. They came and went in waves, pulling away and coming back, leaving you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/leeda-knew-friends-never-turned-out-to-be-what-you-expected-they-came/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [Human hearts are elastic. They have room for all sorts of passions, and they can break and heal and love again and again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/human-hearts-are-elastic-they-have-room-for-all-sorts-of-passions-and/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“Friends, she had realized, could make you do that. Forget the things that worried you most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/friends-she-had-realized-could-make-you-do-that-forget-the-things/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“Sometimes I think that maybe we are just stories. Like we may as well just be words on a page, because we’re only what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/sometimes-i-think-that-maybe-we-are-just-stories-like-we-may-as-well/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“P.S. Please give my love to Tink, she always was such a funny little bug”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/p-s-please-give-my-love-to-tink-she-always-was-such-a-funny-little-bug/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“Maybe she feared there were different ways of being trapped than the ones she already knew.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/maybe-she-feared-there-were-different-ways-of-being-trapped-than-the/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“To not do what you can to protect someone, that's cowardly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/to-not-do-what-you-can-to-protect-someone-that-s-cowardly/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“Others wonder, if the Bogey isn’t wearing his pants, who is?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/others-wonder-if-the-bogey-isn-t-wearing-his-pants-who-is/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

> [“Sometimes I think that maybe we are just stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/sometimes-i-think-that-maybe-we-are-just-stories/)

[Jodi Lynn Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

[Explore all 163 Jodi Lynn Anderson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/)

## More Silence quotes

> [Let us have the luxury of silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/let-us-have-the-luxury-of-silence/)

[Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/)

> [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/)

[Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/)

> [I just can’t, Nick, okay? Now, please give me a second to lie here in silence and bleed.” – Caleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/i-just-can-t-nick-okay-now-please-give-me-a-second-to-lie-here-in/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [“SILENT LIKE SLEEP You appear by my side, silent like sleep. Soft hair, a little wild. No fear, gentle like a calm river. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-goddard/silent-like-sleep-you-appear-by-my-side-silent-like-sleep-soft-hair-a/)

[Donna Goddard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-goddard/)

> [“A word is not filling in the gaps, but the fertilization of silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/a-word-is-not-filling-in-the-gaps-but-the-fertilization-of-silence/)

[Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/)

> [“I’m not like her. I don’t steal people.” Mr. Tibbalt watched her, saying nothing. The silence made Victoria bristle. “Well, I don’t.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-legrand/i-m-not-like-her-i-don-t-steal-people-mr-tibbalt-watched-her-saying/)

[Claire Legrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-legrand/)

> [Silence can be the world's strongest weapon in torturing people's emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/silence-can-be-the-world-s-strongest-weapon-in-torturing-people-s/)

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

> [“Proverbs from the East: The wind howls, but the mountain remains still. Even though I make no special attempt to observe the discipline of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/proverbs-from-the-east-the-wind-howls-but-the-mountain-remains-still/)

[Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/)

> [“When all are one sentience, Language withers and fades away. Let's sit together and speak in silence, Let's be light to each other's way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/when-all-are-one-sentience-language-withers-and-fades-away-let-s-sit/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [True friendship is sitting together in silence and feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-friendship-is-sitting-together-in-silence-and-feeling-like-it/)

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

> [“So what did God say to me in the silence that morning? I’m not sure, but I think God said something like, Don’t try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-held-evans/so-what-did-god-say-to-me-in-the-silence-that-morning-i-m-not-sure/)

[Rachel Held Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-held-evans/)

> [If nothing that can be seen can either be God or represent Him to us as He is, then to find God we must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/if-nothing-that-can-be-seen-can-either-be-god-or-represent-him-to-us/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [I suppose he'll just have to do," she amended. "You'll have to suffer in silence with your male model...I feel for you." "Oh, stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-adornetto/i-suppose-he-ll-just-have-to-do-she-amended-you-ll-have-to-suffer-in/)

[Alexandra Adornetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-adornetto/)

> [The silent majority is silent, and that is best for everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-kocher/the-silent-majority-is-silent-and-that-is-best-for-everybody/)

[Gerhard Kocher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-kocher/)

> [“I once asked you what anxiety felt like, and you told me that most days left you riddled with bullet holes. Every morning came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-a-s/i-once-asked-you-what-anxiety-felt-like-and-you-told-me-that-most/)

[d.a.s](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-a-s/)

[Browse all 8,731 Silence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“She tried to decide whether the silence was an empty one or a waiting one.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jodi Lynn Anderson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/she-tried-to-decide-whether-the-silence-was-an-empty-one-or-a-waiting/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Silence"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/she-tried-to-decide-whether-the-silence-was-an-empty-one-or-a-waiting/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/jodi-lynn-anderson-2517_silence_she-tried-to-decide-whether-the-silence_1173654.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/jodi-lynn-anderson-2517_silence_she-tried-to-decide-whether-the-silence_1173654.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78f/jodi-lynn-anderson-2517_silence_she-tried-to-decide-whether-the-silence_1173654.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“She tried to decide whether the silence was an empty one or a waiting one.” — Jodi Lynn Anderson",
                "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": "Jodi Lynn Anderson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-lynn-anderson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“She tried to decide whether the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/she-tried-to-decide-whether-the-silence-was-an-empty-one-or-a-waiting/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-lynn-anderson/she-tried-to-decide-whether-the-silence-was-an-empty-one-or-a-waiting/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
