--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This was the second time I’d asked about…" description: "\"“This was the second time I’d asked about his wife. I seemed to be speaking English, but perhaps my questions were really Swahili and I just didn’t rea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/laurell-k-hamilton-199_asked_this-was-the-second-time-i-d-asked-about_2434275.jpg" --- # This was the second time I’d asked about his wife. I… ![“This was the second time I’d asked about his wife. I seemed to be speaking English, but perhaps my questions were really Swahili and I just didn’t realize it.” quote by Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/laurell-k-hamilton-199_asked_this-was-the-second-time-i-d-asked-about_2434275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/laurell-k-hamilton-199_asked_this-was-the-second-time-i-d-asked-about_2434275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/011/laurell-k-hamilton-199_asked_this-was-the-second-time-i-d-asked-about_2434275.jpg) > ““This was the second time I’d asked about his wife. I seemed to be speaking English, but perhaps my questions were really Swahili and I just didn’t realize it.”” [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Miscommunication can feel like speaking a different language, even when using the same words. **In simple terms:** Sometimes we talk but are not understood. Key Takeaway Clarify intent and check understanding. Themes communication misunderstanding language Mood confused empathetic Type conversational reflective When to use this quote - marriage - friendship - workplace - cross‑cultural dialogue Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - Do you often feel misunderstood? - How can you ensure you’re truly heard? A Different Perspective Assuming shared meaning can lead to conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“A man approaching retirement called the retirement office to inquire about his pension. Afterward, he was asked if his wife worked. “She’s worked all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-crawford/a-man-approaching-retirement-called-the-retirement-office-to-inquire/) Kelly Crawford > [I asked my wife if she would put out the garbage. she said why should I you never put out for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-asked-my-wife-if-she-would-put-out-the-garbage-she-said-why-should/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary. 'Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!' she said. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/red-skelton/i-asked-my-wife-where-she-wanted-to-go-for-our-anniversary-somewhere/) [Red Skelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/red-skelton/) > [I asked my wife if she enjoys a cigarette after sex and she said "No, one drag is enough".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-asked-my-wife-if-she-enjoys-a-cigarette-after-sex-and-she-said-no/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [Surprise me! Yogi's reply when he was asked by his wife, Carmen, where he would like to be buried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yogi-berra/surprise-me-yogi-s-reply-when-he-was-asked-by-his-wife-carmen-where/) [Yogi Berra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yogi-berra/) > [I asked my wife, 'Is there somebody else?' She said, 'There MUST be.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-asked-my-wife-is-there-somebody-else-she-said-there-must-be/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [I asked my wife to try anal sex. She said, 'Sure. You first.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-schimmel/i-asked-my-wife-to-try-anal-sex-she-said-sure-you-first/) [Robert Schimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-schimmel/) > [I asked my wife, 'On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate me as a lover?' She said, 'You know I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-dangerfield/i-asked-my-wife-on-a-scale-of-1-to-10-how-do-you-rate-me-as-a-lover/) [Rodney Dangerfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-dangerfield/) > [Whenever any actor comes into a producer session, they have so many questions, and we still can't really tell them that much until they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurissa-tancharoen/whenever-any-actor-comes-into-a-producer-session-they-have-so-many-2/) [Maurissa Tancharoen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurissa-tancharoen/) > [The only questions that really matter are the ones you ask yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/the-only-questions-that-really-matter-are-the-ones-you-ask-yourself/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [Ask questions if you really want to know the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lexi-ainsworth/ask-questions-if-you-really-want-to-know-the-answers/) [Lexi Ainsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lexi-ainsworth/) > [To get to the top in anything, you have to keep asking yourself questions. How much do I really want this? What am I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-lewis/to-get-to-the-top-in-anything-you-have-to-keep-asking-yourself/) [Denise Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-lewis/) > [I try to do the story the way I feel the story should be done, and how that folds into whatever larger sorts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-milch/i-try-to-do-the-story-the-way-i-feel-the-story-should-be-done-and-how/) [David Milch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-milch/) > [“How was one to answer these meaningless questions, really? 'A fine day today, is it not, sir? How was your walk? I trust you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-davidson-politano/how-was-one-to-answer-these-meaningless-questions-really-a-fine-day/) [Joanna Davidson Politano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-davidson-politano/) > [When you don't understand something, it's always OK to ask questions. That's really the mentality that I've had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tye-sheridan/when-you-don-t-understand-something-it-s-always-ok-to-ask-questions/) [Tye Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tye-sheridan/) ## More by Laurell K. Hamilton > [“Edward: I don't know whether to put my fingers in my ears and go la-la-la or find more of your guards so we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/edward-i-don-t-know-whether-to-put-my-fingers-in-my-ears-and-go-la-la/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [So many wonderful books to write, and not enough hours in the day. An embarrassment of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/so-many-wonderful-books-to-write-and-not-enough-hours-in-the-day-an/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Money doesn't spend in hell… The devil deals in a different coin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/money-doesn-t-spend-in-hell-the-devil-deals-in-a-different-coin/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [There comes a point when you either embrace who and what you are, or condemn yourself to be miserable all your days. Other people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/there-comes-a-point-when-you-either-embrace-who-and-what-you-are-or/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“I slowed, just a little, one to save energy, and one to let Russell catch up sooner. I took a big breath and prepared.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-slowed-just-a-little-one-to-save-energy-and-one-to-let-russell/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“It wasn't just my beast's hunger, but Jean-Claude's blood thirst and Richard's craving for flesh. It was all that and the ardeur running through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/it-wasn-t-just-my-beast-s-hunger-but-jean-claude-s-blood-thirst-and/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I know that look, Blake. You are a drowning woman, and the only way out is down the aisle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-know-that-look-blake-you-are-a-drowning-woman-and-the-only-way-out/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“Just another day in my life. This was one of those days when I thought that maybe a new life, a different life, wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/just-another-day-in-my-life-this-was-one-of-those-days-when-i-thought/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [“What is that old children’s rhyme, ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me’? Anyone who says that doesn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/what-is-that-old-children-s-rhyme-sticks-and-stones-may-break-my/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [...you don't need ghosts to be haunted. Memory does that just fine without any supernatural help at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/you-don-t-need-ghosts-to-be-haunted-memory-does-that-just-fine/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I hated missing the end of anything. I was always convinced that the bit I'd miss would be the best part.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-hated-missing-the-end-of-anything-i-was-always-convinced-that-the/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [He made a small sigh, as he swallowed the first blood, then his mouth closed over my earlobe, mouth working at the wound, tongue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-made-a-small-sigh-as-he-swallowed-the-first-blood-then-his-mouth/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [He gave a small nod, and I smiled back, and that was it. He understood that I'd understood that he'd understood. It took us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/he-gave-a-small-nod-and-i-smiled-back-and-that-was-it-he-understood/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [ \[T\]hese last few days where I've moped around damn near depressed for real, because of people who do not exist. Not really. I can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/t-hese-last-few-days-where-i-ve-moped-around-damn-near-depressed-for/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) [Explore all 921 Laurell K. Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) ## More Asked quotes > [“Are you sure?" he asked in a low voice. "Because if I had the chance... I would spend every moment of every day with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-monir/are-you-sure-he-asked-in-a-low-voice-because-if-i-had-the-chance-i/) [Alexandra Monir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-monir/) > [“Who tricked me into this whole thing and leaves me standing here? Who am I? How did I get into the world? Why was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-ren-kierkegaard/who-tricked-me-into-this-whole-thing-and-leaves-me-standing-here-who/) [Søren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-ren-kierkegaard/) > [“The best questions are ones never asked.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cory-molloy/the-best-questions-are-ones-never-asked/) Robert Cory Molloy > [A lot of people think I'm snotty. So what? They never asked me out when I was serving cheeseburgers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-moriarty/a-lot-of-people-think-i-m-snotty-so-what-they-never-asked-me-out-when/) [Cathy Moriarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-moriarty/) > [I've been so lucky with the people I've worked with, but I'm such a fan girl. When I moved to London at 16, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheridan-smith/i-ve-been-so-lucky-with-the-people-i-ve-worked-with-but-i-m-such-a/) [Sheridan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheridan-smith/) > [For me to even be talking about bikini confidence is crazy. If you had asked me a couple of months ago, I probably would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/for-me-to-even-be-talking-about-bikini-confidence-is-crazy-if-you-had/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) > [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The only thing Steve Jobs has ever asked me in all the years we've been together and have been partners, the only thing he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/the-only-thing-steve-jobs-has-ever-asked-me-in-all-the-years-we-ve/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [“A girl likes to be asked, dumbass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-stover/a-girl-likes-to-be-asked-dumbass/) [Matthew Stover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-stover/) > [I've been asked to school dances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finn-wolfhard/i-ve-been-asked-to-school-dances/) [Finn Wolfhard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finn-wolfhard/) > [“Which to you have?' Mel asked, blocking the entry with his body. 'Talent or issues?' I paused for a moment, thought about this. 'Both,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leila-sales/which-to-you-have-mel-asked-blocking-the-entry-with-his-body-talent/) [Leila Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leila-sales/) > [“Did you find someone who makes you feel all those things?” she asked, not wanting to think of her own failed union. He locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-rossi/did-you-find-someone-who-makes-you-feel-all-those-things-she-asked/) [Mila Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-rossi/) > [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [At first, I asked, Why me? Then I thought, Why not me?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-jonas/at-first-i-asked-why-me-then-i-thought-why-not-me/) [Nick Jonas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-jonas/) > [When scientists are asked what they are working on, their response is seldom 'Finding the origin of the universe' or 'Seeking to cure cancer.'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/when-scientists-are-asked-what-they-are-working-on-their-response-is/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) Browse all 2,259 Asked quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This was the second time I’d asked about his wife. I seemed to be speaking English, but perhaps my questions were really Swahili and I just didn’t realize it.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Laurell K. 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