--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Only the person who is essentially…" description: "\"“Only the person who is essentially capable of remaining silent is capable of speaking essentially.”\" — Kierkegaard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/kierkegaard-40190_remaining-silent_only-the-person-who-is-essentially-capab_655003.jpg" --- # Only the person who is essentially capable of remaining… ![“Only the person who is essentially capable of remaining silent is capable of speaking essentially.” quote by Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/kierkegaard-40190_remaining-silent_only-the-person-who-is-essentially-capab_655003.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/kierkegaard-40190_remaining-silent_only-the-person-who-is-essentially-capab_655003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/kierkegaard-40190_remaining-silent_only-the-person-who-is-essentially-capab_655003.jpg) > ““Only the person who is essentially capable of remaining silent is capable of speaking essentially.”” [Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Silence is a prerequisite for authentic speech; without inner stillness, words lack depth. **In simple terms:** Quietness enables true expression. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner silence before speaking. Themes philosophy communication authenticity mindfulness Mood thoughtful introspective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation - public speaking - conflict resolution - creative writing Key Concepts existentialism self-awareness speech ethics Questions to Reflect On - When have you needed to speak despite discomfort? - How does silence affect your relationships? A Different Perspective Silence can be a barrier to necessary dialogue. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Capable Speaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capable-speaking-1861119/) [Person Essentially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-essentially-379544/) [Remaining silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remaining-silent/) [Silent Capable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silent-capable-5229806/) [Speaking Essentially](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speaking-essentially-5229805/) ## Related quotes > [My cat's fully capable of speaking, but he says he's afraid of me turning it into a Kevin James vehicle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kindler/my-cat-s-fully-capable-of-speaking-but-he-says-he-s-afraid-of-me/) [Andy Kindler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kindler/) > [We must be capable of speaking a language of peace, but not one of surrender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/silvio-berlusconi/we-must-be-capable-of-speaking-a-language-of-peace-but-not-one-of/) [Silvio Berlusconi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/silvio-berlusconi/) > [“The problems in describing a person are essentially problems of knowing a person.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-antrim/the-problems-in-describing-a-person-are-essentially-problems-of/) [Donald Antrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-antrim/) > [Anybody who is an entrepreneur is a person who essentially has impaired judgment. The odds of success are zilch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/anybody-who-is-an-entrepreneur-is-a-person-who-essentially-has/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Anybody who is an entrepreneur is a person who essentially has impaired judgment. The odds of success are zilch. This valley is loaded to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/anybody-who-is-an-entrepreneur-is-a-person-who-essentially-has-2/) [Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/) > [Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah/even-a-fool-when-he-holdeth-his-peace-is-counted-wise/) [Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah/) > [“Take responsibility. Just as you can't deny that you can feel love and hate, happiness and sadness, anger and ease of mind, or tiredness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najwa-zebian/take-responsibility-just-as-you-can-t-deny-that-you-can-feel-love-and/) [Najwa Zebian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najwa-zebian/) > [“Humans were capable of incredible cruelty, our father wanted me, my sister, and my brothers to understand. And just as dangerous, he made us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/humans-were-capable-of-incredible-cruelty-our-father-wanted-me-my/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“You can quicker get back a million dollars that was stolen than a word that you gave away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/you-can-quicker-get-back-a-million-dollars-that-was-stolen-than-a/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“Silence does not mean remaining silent both in speech and on paper. You can keep your mouth shut while communicating thousands of words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/silence-does-not-mean-remaining-silent-both-in-speech-and-on-paper/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [Sadly, the same leaders who call on Palestinians to abandon violence have been silent in the face of Israeli repression. By condemning violent Palestinian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousef-munayyer/sadly-the-same-leaders-who-call-on-palestinians-to-abandon-violence/) [Yousef Munayyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousef-munayyer/) > [silence is the language of god, all else is poor translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/silence-is-the-language-of-god-all-else-is-poor-translation/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [“It's odd," the Warrior of the Light says to himself. "I have met so many people who, at the first opportunity, try to show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-odd-the-warrior-of-the-light-says-to-himself-i-have-met-so-many/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Then one day I realized that a false picture of the German camps had been created and that the problem of the concentration camps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rassinier/then-one-day-i-realized-that-a-false-picture-of-the-german-camps-had/) [Paul Rassinier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rassinier/) > [The epitaph that I would write for history would say: I conceal nothing. It is not enough not to lie. One should strive not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-epitaph-that-i-would-write-for-history-would-say-i-conceal/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## More by Kierkegaard > [“To relate oneself expectantly to the possibility of the good is to hope. To relate oneself expectantly to the possibility of evil is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/to-relate-oneself-expectantly-to-the-possibility-of-the-good-is-to/) [Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/) > [“By seeing the multitude of people around it, by being busied with all sorts of worldly affairs, by being wise to the ways of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/by-seeing-the-multitude-of-people-around-it-by-being-busied-with-all/) [Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/) > [“And although this (marital love) cannot be portrayed artistically, then let your consolation be, as it is mine, that we are not to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/and-although-this-marital-love-cannot-be-portrayed-artistically-then/) [Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/) > [“The surest of stubborn silences is not to hold one's tongue but to talk”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/the-surest-of-stubborn-silences-is-not-to-hold-one-s-tongue-but-to/) [Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/) > [“Ask me what you wish; just do not ask me for reasons.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/ask-me-what-you-wish-just-do-not-ask-me-for-reasons/) [Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/) > [“If the ethical - that is, social morality - is the highest and if there is in a person no residual incommensurability in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/if-the-ethical-that-is-social-morality-is-the-highest-and-if-there-is/) [Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/) > [“What is a poet? A poet is an unhappy being whose heart is torn by secret sufferings, but whose lips are so strangely formed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/what-is-a-poet-a-poet-is-an-unhappy-being-whose-heart-is-torn-by/) [Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/) > [“The greatest hazard of all, losing one's self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/the-greatest-hazard-of-all-losing-one-s-self-can-occur-very-quietly-4/) [Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/) > [“I shall be as willing as the next man to fall down in worship before the System, if only I can manage to set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/i-shall-be-as-willing-as-the-next-man-to-fall-down-in-worship-before/) [Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/) [Explore all 10 Kierkegaard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/) ## More Remaining silent quotes > [“Take responsibility. Just as you can't deny that you can feel love and hate, happiness and sadness, anger and ease of mind, or tiredness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najwa-zebian/take-responsibility-just-as-you-can-t-deny-that-you-can-feel-love-and/) [Najwa Zebian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najwa-zebian/) > [silence is the language of god, all else is poor translation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/silence-is-the-language-of-god-all-else-is-poor-translation/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremiah/even-a-fool-when-he-holdeth-his-peace-is-counted-wise/) [Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremiah/) > [Then one day I realized that a false picture of the German camps had been created and that the problem of the concentration camps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rassinier/then-one-day-i-realized-that-a-false-picture-of-the-german-camps-had/) [Paul Rassinier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rassinier/) > [“It's odd," the Warrior of the Light says to himself. "I have met so many people who, at the first opportunity, try to show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-s-odd-the-warrior-of-the-light-says-to-himself-i-have-met-so-many/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [The epitaph that I would write for history would say: I conceal nothing. It is not enough not to lie. One should strive not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/the-epitaph-that-i-would-write-for-history-would-say-i-conceal/) [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) > [Sadly, the same leaders who call on Palestinians to abandon violence have been silent in the face of Israeli repression. By condemning violent Palestinian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yousef-munayyer/sadly-the-same-leaders-who-call-on-palestinians-to-abandon-violence/) [Yousef Munayyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yousef-munayyer/) > [“Silence does not mean remaining silent both in speech and on paper. You can keep your mouth shut while communicating thousands of words to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/silence-does-not-mean-remaining-silent-both-in-speech-and-on-paper/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [“You can quicker get back a million dollars that was stolen than a word that you gave away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/you-can-quicker-get-back-a-million-dollars-that-was-stolen-than-a/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [“Humans were capable of incredible cruelty, our father wanted me, my sister, and my brothers to understand. And just as dangerous, he made us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/humans-were-capable-of-incredible-cruelty-our-father-wanted-me-my/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Sometimes one creates a dynamic impression by saying something, and sometimes one creates as significant an impression by remaining silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/sometimes-one-creates-a-dynamic-impression-by-saying-something-and/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I'm intrigued that the same letters from the alphabet are used in the word silent and in the word listen. Perhaps it's evidence that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-herjavec/i-m-intrigued-that-the-same-letters-from-the-alphabet-are-used-in-the/) [Robert Herjavec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-herjavec/) > [Whoever criticizes capitalism, while approving immigration, whose working class is its first victim, had better shut up. Whoever criticizes immigration, while remaining silent about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-benoist/whoever-criticizes-capitalism-while-approving-immigration-whose/) [Alain de Benoist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-benoist/) > [“The danger of remaining silent is over time you begin to lose your voice. You forget how to stand up for yourself and end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanesia-harris/the-danger-of-remaining-silent-is-over-time-you-begin-to-lose-your/) [Tanesia Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanesia-harris/) > [“Believing in religion is an insult to God, because God means high intelligence and what intelligence there is in religion? Let us save the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/believing-in-religion-is-an-insult-to-god-because-god-means-high-2/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 30 Remaining silent quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remaining-silent/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Only the person who is essentially capable of remaining silent is capable of speaking essentially.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kierkegaard" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/only-the-person-who-is-essentially-capable-of-remaining-silent-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Remaining silent" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/only-the-person-who-is-essentially-capable-of-remaining-silent-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/kierkegaard-40190_remaining-silent_only-the-person-who-is-essentially-capab_655003.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/kierkegaard-40190_remaining-silent_only-the-person-who-is-essentially-capab_655003.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/100/kierkegaard-40190_remaining-silent_only-the-person-who-is-essentially-capab_655003.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Only the person who is essentially capable of remaining silent is capable of speaking essentially.” — Kierkegaard", "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": "Kierkegaard", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kierkegaard/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Only the person who is essentially...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/only-the-person-who-is-essentially-capable-of-remaining-silent-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kierkegaard/only-the-person-who-is-essentially-capable-of-remaining-silent-is/#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 } } ] } ```