--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Japanese affection is not uttered in…" description: "\"Japanese affection is not uttered in words; it scarcely appears even in the tone of voice; it is chiefly shown in acts of exquisite courtesy and kindne..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/lafcadio-hearn-10164_affection_japanese-affection-is-not-uttered-in-wor_2111245.png" --- # Japanese affection is not uttered in words; it scarcely… ![“Japanese affection is not uttered in words; it scarcely appears even in the tone of voice; it is chiefly shown in acts of exquisite courtesy and kindness.” quote by Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/lafcadio-hearn-10164_affection_japanese-affection-is-not-uttered-in-wor_2111245.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/lafcadio-hearn-10164_affection_japanese-affection-is-not-uttered-in-wor_2111245.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/lafcadio-hearn-10164_affection_japanese-affection-is-not-uttered-in-wor_2111245.png) > “Japanese affection is not uttered in words; it scarcely appears even in the tone of voice; it is chiefly shown in acts of exquisite courtesy and kindness.” [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Love in Japanese culture is expressed more through subtle actions and courtesy than through spoken words or tone. **In simple terms:** Japanese love shows in deeds, not words. Key Takeaway Observe and practice thoughtful kindness. Themes culture communication kindness Mood reflective gentle Type observational cultural. When to use this quote - family gatherings - business etiquette - friendship rituals Key Concepts social norms nonverbal expression Questions to Reflect On - How do you convey affection without words? - What small acts of courtesy can you offer today? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) [Courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Tone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone/) [Tone Of Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tone-of-voice/) [Voice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/voice/) ## Related quotes > [Music was born of love. Had there never been any human affection, there never could have been uttered a strain of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/music-was-born-of-love-had-there-never-been-any-human-affection-there/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The true greatness of a person, in my view, is evident in the way he or she treats those with whom courtesy and kindness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/the-true-greatness-of-a-person-in-my-view-is-evident-in-the-way-he-or/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“In the meantime: (1) be direct; (2) remember that, being smarter than men, women respond to courtesy and kindness; (3) if you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/in-the-meantime-1-be-direct-2-remember-that-being-smarter-than-men/) [David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/) > [Occasionally, family members treat each other with less courtesy and kindness than they do acquaintances or even strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/occasionally-family-members-treat-each-other-with-less-courtesy-and/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [We may scatter the seeds of courtesy and kindness about us at little expense. Some of them will fall on good ground, and grow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-bentham/we-may-scatter-the-seeds-of-courtesy-and-kindness-about-us-at-little/) [Jeremy Bentham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-bentham/) > [“Courtesy and kindness cultivate confidence with good Netiquette. Doing things right makes you feel good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chiles/courtesy-and-kindness-cultivate-confidence-with-good-netiquette-doing/) [David Chiles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chiles/) > [Guy Savelli's role in the War on Terror began when half-a-dozen strangers, within days of one another, contacted him via e-mail and telephone in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ronson/guy-savelli-s-role-in-the-war-on-terror-began-when-half-a-dozen/) [Jon Ronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ronson/) > [When doing theater, you have to find great satisfaction in the small things. There's going to be a repetition and a redundancy night after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-spader/when-doing-theater-you-have-to-find-great-satisfaction-in-the-small/) [James Spader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-spader/) > [“Even without world wars, revolutions and emigration, siblings growing up in the same home almost never share the same environment. More accurately, brothers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/even-without-world-wars-revolutions-and-emigration-siblings-growing/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [“when i think 'dave eggers' in my head it's in the same tone of voice jerry seinfeld uses to say 'hello newman' at work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-boyle/when-i-think-dave-eggers-in-my-head-it-s-in-the-same-tone-of-voice/) [Megan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-boyle/) > [Grammar and logic free language from being at the mercy of the tone of voice. Grammar protects us against misunderstanding the sound of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-rosenstock-huessy/grammar-and-logic-free-language-from-being-at-the-mercy-of-the-tone/) [Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-rosenstock-huessy/) > [Probably a dozen times since their death I've heard my mother or father, in an ordinary conversational tone of voice, call my name. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/probably-a-dozen-times-since-their-death-i-ve-heard-my-mother-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [Coming to appreciate your worth can, in some cases, dramatically improve your circumstances by changing the choices you make and the actions you take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/coming-to-appreciate-your-worth-can-in-some-cases-dramatically/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [Journalists are notoriously easy to kid. All you have to do is speak to a journalist in a very serious tone of voice, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/journalists-are-notoriously-easy-to-kid-all-you-have-to-do-is-speak/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [“he does not wear a twitching, mobile, human face, but rather a mask, as it were, with its features in dignified equilibrium; he does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/he-does-not-wear-a-twitching-mobile-human-face-but-rather-a-mask-as/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) ## More by Lafcadio Hearn > [“Ere morning the storm had passed; and day broke through a cloudless east. Even if the sleeve of Aoyagi hid from her lover's eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/ere-morning-the-storm-had-passed-and-day-broke-through-a-cloudless/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [At last, in 1611, was made, under the auspices of King James, the famous King James version; and this is the great literary monument…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/at-last-in-1611-was-made-under-the-auspices-of-king-james-the-famous/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“Let those who want to hatch hatch their own eggs. ----Martinique proverb”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/let-those-who-want-to-hatch-hatch-their-own-eggs-martinique-proverb/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [There was very little suicide among the men of the North, because every man considered it his duty to get killed, not to kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/there-was-very-little-suicide-among-the-men-of-the-north-because/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [But every great scripture, whether Hebrew, Indian, Persian, or Chinese, apart from its religious value will be found to have some rare and special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/but-every-great-scripture-whether-hebrew-indian-persian-or-chinese/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“It may remain for us to learn… that our task is only beginning, and that there will never be given to us even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/it-may-remain-for-us-to-learn-that-our-task-is-only-beginning-and/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“Then a scream of steam, a mighty jolt; and the thunder-rattle recommences, and the train again begins to rock in mad storms of dust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/then-a-scream-of-steam-a-mighty-jolt-and-the-thunder-rattle/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [Some persons have ventured to say that it is only since Englishmen ceased to believe in the Bible that they began to discover how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/some-persons-have-ventured-to-say-that-it-is-only-since-englishmen/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [There is one type of ideal woman very seldom described in poetry - the old maid, the woman whom sorrow or misfortune prevents from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/there-is-one-type-of-ideal-woman-very-seldom-described-in-poetry-the/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [A proof of really great art is that it is generally true - it seldom falls into the misapprehensions to which minor art is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/a-proof-of-really-great-art-is-that-it-is-generally-true-it-seldom/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [“Našao je zemlju izlazećeg sunca pa je pšenično zrno, koje je neplodno, bacakano vetrom, najzad naišlo na grudu zemlje koja će ga primiti da…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/na-ao-je-zemlju-izlaze-eg-sunca-pa-je-p-eni-no-zrno-koje-je-neplodno/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [But what is after all the happiness of mere power? There is a greater happiness possible than to be lord of heaven and earth;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/but-what-is-after-all-the-happiness-of-mere-power-there-is-a-greater/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [The fact, however, to which I want to call attention is that the master of Judo never relies upon his own strength. He scarcely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/the-fact-however-to-which-i-want-to-call-attention-is-that-the-master/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [Times are not good here. The city is crumbling into ashes. It has been buried under taxes and frauds and maladministrations so that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/times-are-not-good-here-the-city-is-crumbling-into-ashes-it-has-been/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) > [Woo the muse of the odd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/woo-the-muse-of-the-odd/) [Lafcadio Hearn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) [Explore all 67 Lafcadio Hearn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/) ## More Affection quotes > [My team and I have reunited two elements that coexist with diffiulty: respect and affection, because when they love you they don't respect you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/my-team-and-i-have-reunited-two-elements-that-coexist-with-diffiulty/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/) [Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/) > [“It is to build a house with affection, even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/it-is-to-build-a-house-with-affection-even-as-if-your-beloved-were-to/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [A lost love. Deny it who will, ridicule it, treat it as mere imagination and sentiment, the thing is and will be; and women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/a-lost-love-deny-it-who-will-ridicule-it-treat-it-as-mere-imagination/) [Dinah Maria Murlock Craik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dinah-maria-murlock-craik/) > [Affection! Affection is false.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/affection-affection-is-false/) [Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/) > [We are a spectacular, splendid manifestation of life. We have language. . . . We have affection. We have genes for usefulness, and usefulness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-a-spectacular-splendid-manifestation-of-life-we-have-language/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [The still affection of the heart Became an outward breathing type, That into stillness past again, And left a want unknown before; Although the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-still-affection-of-the-heart-became-an-outward-breathing-type/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [I am persuaded that there is no affection of the human heart more exquisitely pure, than that which is felt by a grateful son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-more/i-am-persuaded-that-there-is-no-affection-of-the-human-heart-more/) [Hannah More](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-more/) > [If you live in a material universe where acquiring things is very important to you, then family is an absolute deterrent to maintaining that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-taylor-gatto/if-you-live-in-a-material-universe-where-acquiring-things-is-very/) [John Taylor Gatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-taylor-gatto/) > [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) > [“Georgia O’Keeffe moved to rural New Mexico, from which she would sign her letters to the people she loved, “from the faraway nearby.” It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/georgia-o-keeffe-moved-to-rural-new-mexico-from-which-she-would-sign/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) [Browse all 2,465 Affection quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affection/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Japanese affection is not uttered in words; it scarcely appears even in the tone of voice; it is chiefly shown in acts of exquisite courtesy and kindness.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lafcadio Hearn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/japanese-affection-is-not-uttered-in-words-it-scarcely-appears-even/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Affection" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/japanese-affection-is-not-uttered-in-words-it-scarcely-appears-even/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/lafcadio-hearn-10164_affection_japanese-affection-is-not-uttered-in-wor_2111245.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/lafcadio-hearn-10164_affection_japanese-affection-is-not-uttered-in-wor_2111245.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/149/lafcadio-hearn-10164_affection_japanese-affection-is-not-uttered-in-wor_2111245.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Japanese affection is not uttered in words; it scarcely appears even in the tone of voice; it is chiefly…” — Lafcadio Hearn", "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": "Lafcadio Hearn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lafcadio-hearn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Japanese affection is not uttered in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/japanese-affection-is-not-uttered-in-words-it-scarcely-appears-even/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lafcadio-hearn/japanese-affection-is-not-uttered-in-words-it-scarcely-appears-even/#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 } } ] } ```