Cynicism Quote by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly
““In Paris, where raillery is so quick to throw emotion out the window, silence, in a roomful of clever people after a story, is the most flattering of all marks of success””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Les Diaboliques by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly, 1874
In witty circles, silence after a story signals deep appreciation and respect more than applause.
In simple terms: Silence shows true appreciation.
Key Takeaway
Value quiet acknowledgment.
Themes
social dynamics
communication
esteem
Mood
reflective
subtle
Type
observational
literary
When to use this quote
- dinner parties
- literary salons
- debates
- presentations
Key Concepts
cultural etiquette
social signaling
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you interpret silence in conversation?
- When does silence become awkward?
A Different Perspective
Silence may be misread as disinterest.
![“Now, Mesnilgrand saw himself come to full maturity without the great military career that he had hoped for, his sword rusting in its scabbard, his feelings swelling up into the bitterest kind of rage. [...] An ingenious moralist, preoccupid by how illogical our destinies appear to be, once…” quote by Jules Barbey d'Aurevilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/83f/jules-barbey-d-aurevilly-26843_dissapointment_now-mesnilgrand-saw-himself-come-to-full_2278495.jpg)
