Silence Quote by John Dominic Crossan
““If an audience kept complete silence during a challenge parable from Jesus and if an audience filed past him afterward saying, 'Lovely parable, this morning, Rabbi,' Jesus would have failed utterly.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Historical Jesus, 1994
If listeners remain silent and then praise a parable, the teaching fails.
In simple terms: Audience engagement is essential for teaching.
Encourage active participation in learning.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- classroom
- public speaking
- religious instruction
- storytelling
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does audience feedback shape a message?
- What signs indicate a teaching’s impact?
Silence may reflect respect, not failure.