--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only those who haven't got the wit to…" description: "\"Only those who haven't got the wit to speak for themselves would ever want their clothes to do it for them.\" — Julie Burchill" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/julie-burchill-3458_clothes_only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-sp_745245.png" --- # Only those who haven't got the wit to speak for themselves… ![“Only those who haven't got the wit to speak for themselves would ever want their clothes to do it for them.” quote by Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/julie-burchill-3458_clothes_only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-sp_745245.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/julie-burchill-3458_clothes_only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-sp_745245.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/julie-burchill-3458_clothes_only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-sp_745245.png) > “Only those who haven't got the wit to speak for themselves would ever want their clothes to do it for them.” [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If you lack confidence to speak, you let clothing speak for you, which is limiting. **In simple terms:** Clothes shouldn't replace speech. Key Takeaway Develop personal voice. Themes self‑expression confidence fashion Mood empowering reflective Type inspirational critical When to use this quote - public speaking - personal branding - social media presence Key Concepts identity communication Questions to Reflect On - What message do your clothes send? - How can you strengthen your spoken voice? A Different Perspective Relying on image can mask deeper insecurities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak/) [Speak Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-want-1359496/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Clothes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-clothes-1169989/) [Wit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit/) [Wit Speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wit-speak-1529163/) ## Related quotes > [It is a sad thing when men have neither the wit to speak well nor the judgment to hold their tongues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/it-is-a-sad-thing-when-men-have-neither-the-wit-to-speak-well-nor-the/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [It is a great misfortune not to possess sufficient wit to speak well, nor sufficient judgment to keep silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/it-is-a-great-misfortune-not-to-possess-sufficient-wit-to-speak-well/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [C’mon, Tally. Don’t you want your clothes, your keys? Oh wait, how about some dignity? (Kyrian)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/c-mon-tally-don-t-you-want-your-clothes-your-keys-oh-wait-how-about/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I can speak about me: I never want to be off the pitch; I never want to come off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-luiz/i-can-speak-about-me-i-never-want-to-be-off-the-pitch-i-never-want-to/) [David Luiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-luiz/) > [Speak what I want, I don't care what y'all feel. 'Cause I'm my own master, my Pop told me be your own boss. Keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/speak-what-i-want-i-don-t-care-what-y-all-feel-cause-i-m-my-own/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [When we speak, we want to say something sweet, but we don't say something sweet because something is ordering us from deep down to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-we-speak-we-want-to-say-something-sweet-but-we-don-t-say/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you want to be seen, stand up. If you want to be heard, speak up. If you want to be appreciated, shut up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/if-you-want-to-be-seen-stand-up-if-you-want-to-be-heard-speak-up-if/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [I want to teach. I want to speak. I want to travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-want-to-teach-i-want-to-speak-i-want-to-travel/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [True story - I had index cards; I would write things on them and post them on the mirror in the bathroom. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fantasia-barrino/true-story-i-had-index-cards-i-would-write-things-on-them-and-post/) [Fantasia Barrino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fantasia-barrino/) > [“When people call up Rush Limbaugh and say, ‘It’s an honor to speak to you,’ I want to shoot myself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-theroux/when-people-call-up-rush-limbaugh-and-say-it-s-an-honor-to-speak-to/) [Alexander Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-theroux/) > [“I can't talk you out of this?" he whispered, his eyes searching mine. "No." He swallowed and brushed back a hair from my forehead.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/i-can-t-talk-you-out-of-this-he-whispered-his-eyes-searching-mine-no/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [Let people speak anything they want, be yourself and do what makes you happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/let-people-speak-anything-they-want-be-yourself-and-do-what-makes-you/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [Lord, may I think what you want me to think. May I desire what you want me to desire. May I speak as you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro-poveda-castroverde/lord-may-i-think-what-you-want-me-to-think-may-i-desire-what-you-want/) [Pedro Poveda Castroverde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro-poveda-castroverde/) > [As a human being, I do feel like it's my right to be able to stand up for and speak on whatever I want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayesha-curry/as-a-human-being-i-do-feel-like-it-s-my-right-to-be-able-to-stand-up/) [Ayesha Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayesha-curry/) > [“Living in Supreme Influence, your language is neutral and/or moving toward your vision rather than moving away. In other words, you speak about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niurka/living-in-supreme-influence-your-language-is-neutral-and-or-moving/) [Niurka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niurka/) ## More by Julie Burchill > [As a precocious teen I dreamed of being Graham Greene. Well, as it turned out, I never wrote a great novel, sadly, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/as-a-precocious-teen-i-dreamed-of-being-graham-greene-well-as-it/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [Being a child is horrible. It is slightly better than being a tree or a piece of heavy machinery but not half as good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/being-a-child-is-horrible-it-is-slightly-better-than-being-a-tree-or/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [People - and I include myself - get fat because they choose pleasure over self-denial.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/people-and-i-include-myself-get-fat-because-they-choose-pleasure-over/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [My dad didn't drive - the only dad I knew who didn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/my-dad-didn-t-drive-the-only-dad-i-knew-who-didn-t/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [In my third husband I had discovered a blissfully laid-back type who thought it nothing less than hilarious when I misread the map on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/in-my-third-husband-i-had-discovered-a-blissfully-laid-back-type-who/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [I believe, literally, in the God of the Old Testament, whom I understand as the Lord of the Jews and the Protestants. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/i-believe-literally-in-the-god-of-the-old-testament-whom-i-understand/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [A cynic should never marry an idealist. For the cynic, marriage represents the welcome end of romantic life, with all its agony and ecstasy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/a-cynic-should-never-marry-an-idealist-for-the-cynic-marriage/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [Surely being a Professional Beauty - let alone an ageing one - is one of the most insecure and doomed careers imaginable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/surely-being-a-professional-beauty-let-alone-an-ageing-one-is-one-of/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [Can I just say here how much I hate the word 'pamper'? While pretending to celebrate and indulge women, it actually implies that their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/can-i-just-say-here-how-much-i-hate-the-word-pamper-while-pretending/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [May I just single out for salutations, on the "anti-war" side: Pop Stars For Appeasement, Dancers Against Democracy, Actors For Apathy, Fashionistas For Fascism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/may-i-just-single-out-for-salutations-on-the-anti-war-side-pop-stars/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [From paying off friends' tax bills to rescuing stray dogs and stuffing £20 notes into the hands of homeless people, I can't get rid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/from-paying-off-friends-tax-bills-to-rescuing-stray-dogs-and-stuffing/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [Nicole Kidman in particular seems to bring out the butt-kisser in the sassiest of hackettes, as they ceaselessly strive to portray her as some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/nicole-kidman-in-particular-seems-to-bring-out-the-butt-kisser-in-the/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [Hooliganism incarnate, a walking, talking, screaming, squawking metaphor for What's Wrong With Young People Today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/hooliganism-incarnate-a-walking-talking-screaming-squawking-metaphor/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [I am firmly of the opinion that women who make a lot of effort to hang onto their looks in middle age (unless they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/i-am-firmly-of-the-opinion-that-women-who-make-a-lot-of-effort-to/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) > [People often yearn back to more innocent times, but more and more, as I get older, I find myself hankering after more jaded days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/people-often-yearn-back-to-more-innocent-times-but-more-and-more-as-i/) [Julie Burchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) [Explore all 130 Julie Burchill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/) ## More Clothes quotes > [Personal Style comes from within. It's when the woman, her individuality and spirit come through. She uses clothes to express who she is and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-karan/personal-style-comes-from-within-it-s-when-the-woman-her/) [Donna Karan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-karan/) > [I don't own designer clothes, or a sports car, or a huge house, but I am seeing the world, experiencing amazing things, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roz-savage/i-don-t-own-designer-clothes-or-a-sports-car-or-a-huge-house-but-i-am/) [Roz Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roz-savage/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [The color of somebody's skin or the way he wears his hair or clothes has nothing to do with anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-color-of-somebody-s-skin-or-the-way-he-wears-his-hair-or-clothes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I shot for French and British Vogue. The British Vogue one featured clothes by Chloe and was shot at Highgate and the John Soane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/i-shot-for-french-and-british-vogue-the-british-vogue-one-featured/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [Nowadays most people wear black most of the time anyway: go to a literary party and one would imagine everyone there was in perpetual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fay-weldon/nowadays-most-people-wear-black-most-of-the-time-anyway-go-to-a/) [Fay Weldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fay-weldon/) > [Everyday happiness means getting up in the morning, and you can't wait to finish your breakfast. You can't wait to do your exercises. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-burns/everyday-happiness-means-getting-up-in-the-morning-and-you-can-t-wait/) [George Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-burns/) > [I design some of my own clothes now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiernan-shipka/i-design-some-of-my-own-clothes-now/) [Kiernan Shipka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiernan-shipka/) > [I know my hair is out of the '60's, my clothes are '50's and the shoes I wear are from the '40's. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-know-my-hair-is-out-of-the-60-s-my-clothes-are-50-s-and-the-shoes-i/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [Don't get too excited, but I'm naked under these clothes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/don-t-get-too-excited-but-i-m-naked-under-these-clothes/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [Downstairs in my house, I have a museum room. I keep all of my awards down there, and childhood photos, and even all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-kelly/downstairs-in-my-house-i-have-a-museum-room-i-keep-all-of-my-awards/) [R. Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-kelly/) > [My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. 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I like looking at my clothes rack in the morning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-wintour/it-s-very-important-to-me-that-i-look-good-when-i-go-out-publicly-i/) [Anna Wintour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-wintour/) [Browse all 4,888 Clothes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clothes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Only those who haven't got the wit to speak for themselves would ever want their clothes to do it for them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Julie Burchill" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-speak-for-themselves-would-ever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Clothes" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-speak-for-themselves-would-ever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/julie-burchill-3458_clothes_only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-sp_745245.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/julie-burchill-3458_clothes_only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-sp_745245.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/309/julie-burchill-3458_clothes_only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-sp_745245.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only those who haven't got the wit to speak for themselves would ever want their clothes to do it for them.” — Julie Burchill", "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": "Julie Burchill", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-burchill/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Only those who haven't got the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-speak-for-themselves-would-ever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-burchill/only-those-who-haven-t-got-the-wit-to-speak-for-themselves-would-ever/#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 } } ] } ```