--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Friend, when you speak this carefully I…" description: "\"Friend, when you speak this carefully I know it is because you don't know what to say.\" — Leonard Cohen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/leonard-cohen-448_friendship_friend-when-you-speak-this-carefully-i-k_2055941.jpg" --- # Friend, when you speak this carefully I know it is because… ![“Friend, when you speak this carefully I know it is because you don't know what to say.” quote by Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/leonard-cohen-448_friendship_friend-when-you-speak-this-carefully-i-k_2055941.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/leonard-cohen-448_friendship_friend-when-you-speak-this-carefully-i-k_2055941.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/leonard-cohen-448_friendship_friend-when-you-speak-this-carefully-i-k_2055941.jpg) > “Friend, when you speak this carefully I know it is because you don't know what to say.” [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When someone speaks carefully, it often hides uncertainty or lack of knowledge. **In simple terms:** Careful speech can mask not. Key Takeaway Listen for underlying uncertainty. Themes communication honesty vulnerability Mood introspective cautious Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - interviews - debates - personal conversations - teaching moments Key Concepts psychology of speech self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - Why do we sometimes hide our ignorance? - How can we create safe spaces for honest dialogue? A Different Perspective People may deliberately conceal uncertainty for image reasons. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ## Related quotes > [Don't say everything you know. Always choose your words carefully and know they can always be used against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-say-everything-you-know-always-choose-your-words-carefully-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“we must speak carefully so that we and our listeners do not get stuck in words or concepts. It is our duty to transcend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/we-must-speak-carefully-so-that-we-and-our-listeners-do-not-get-stuck/) [Thích Nhất Hạnh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/th-ch-nh-t-h-nh/) > [“I have to speak carefully now because I have this strange habit of imitating British people without even realizing that I'm doing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-norman/i-have-to-speak-carefully-now-because-i-have-this-strange-habit-of/) [Matthew Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-norman/) > [“When you're in the middle of your depression, pay good attention to it, because, tended carefully, you never know where it might lead you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwyneth-lewis/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-your-depression-pay-good-attention-to-it/) [Gwyneth Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwyneth-lewis/) > [When somebody talks about home, you have to listen carefully so you know exactly which one the person is referring to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noviolet-bulawayo/when-somebody-talks-about-home-you-have-to-listen-carefully-so-you/) [NoViolet Bulawayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noviolet-bulawayo/) > [“Before I began research for this book I was not consciously aware that women were aggressive in indirect ways, that they gossiped and ostracized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-chesler/before-i-began-research-for-this-book-i-was-not-consciously-aware/) [Phyllis Chesler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-chesler/) > [Hear not ill of a friend, nor speak any of an enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/hear-not-ill-of-a-friend-nor-speak-any-of-an-enemy/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Oh, it's quite simple. If you are a friend, you speak the password, and the doors will open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-it-s-quite-simple-if-you-are-a-friend-you-speak-the-password-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The key is that Jesus does want to speak to us-to you-today. In your own language, just as a friend would speak. We simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-armstrong/the-key-is-that-jesus-does-want-to-speak-to-us-to-you-today-in-your/) Wally Armstrong > [“It's interesting to watch my friend speak carefully about what he thinks I'll find interesting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-manguso/it-s-interesting-to-watch-my-friend-speak-carefully-about-what-he/) [Sarah Manguso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-manguso/) > [Hear no ill of a friend, nor speak any of an enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/hear-no-ill-of-a-friend-nor-speak-any-of-an-enemy/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [A man cannot speak to his son, but as a father; to his wife, but as a husband; to his enemy, but upon terms:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/a-man-cannot-speak-to-his-son-but-as-a-father-to-his-wife-but-as-a/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“Edith says that there are some people in the world that don't you all the time or play games but they still love you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecelia-ahern/edith-says-that-there-are-some-people-in-the-world-that-don-t-you-all/) [Cecelia Ahern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecelia-ahern/) > [“Well, man, you know what they say." No, I don't. I don't know what they say. I don't even know who they are. Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-burnham/well-man-you-know-what-they-say-no-i-don-t-i-don-t-know-what-they-say/) [Bo Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-burnham/) > [Corporations have nothing to do with values, and they know it, and sometimes say it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kierans/corporations-have-nothing-to-do-with-values-and-they-know-it-and/) [Eric Kierans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kierans/) ## More by Leonard Cohen > [The blizzard of the world has crossed the threshold and it's overturned the order of the soul...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/the-blizzard-of-the-world-has-crossed-the-threshold-and-it-s/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“Don't matter if you're rich and strong Don't matter if you're weak Don't matter if you write a song The nightingales repeat Don't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/don-t-matter-if-you-re-rich-and-strong-don-t-matter-if-you-re-weak/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“You don't know me from the wind you never will, you never did I'm the little jew who wrote the Bible. I've seen the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/you-don-t-know-me-from-the-wind-you-never-will-you-never-did-i-m-the/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“This is it I’m not coming after you I’m going to lie down for half an hour This is it I’m not going down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/this-is-it-i-m-not-coming-after-you-i-m-going-to-lie-down-for-half-an/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [My sense of proprietorship has been so weak that actually I didn't pay attention and I lost the copyrights on a lot of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/my-sense-of-proprietorship-has-been-so-weak-that-actually-i-didn-t/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [This world is full of conflicts and full of things that cannot be reconciled. But there are moments when we can... reconcile and embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/this-world-is-full-of-conflicts-and-full-of-things-that-cannot-be/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [ I would say the hummingbird really deserves the royalties on \[some of my songs\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-would-say-the-hummingbird-really-deserves-the-royalties-on-some-of/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [One is given to self-dramatization from time to time. I intend to live forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/one-is-given-to-self-dramatization-from-time-to-time-i-intend-to-live/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [The basic function of popular music is to create an environment for courting, lovemaking, and doing the dishes. It's useful because it addresses the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/the-basic-function-of-popular-music-is-to-create-an-environment-for/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“Blessed are you, embrace of the falling, foundation of the light, master of the human accident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/blessed-are-you-embrace-of-the-falling-foundation-of-the-light-master/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I continually blacken pages and scribble away, so I always have a number of songs that are half-finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-continually-blacken-pages-and-scribble-away-so-i-always-have-a/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I have nothing against the Queen of England. Even in my heart I never resented her for not being Jackie Kennedy. She is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-have-nothing-against-the-queen-of-england-even-in-my-heart-i-never/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I loved you when you opened like a lily to the heat; you see I’m just another snowman standing in the rain and sleet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-loved-you-when-you-opened-like-a-lily-to-the-heat-you-see-i-m-just/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [It's time that we began to laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/it-s-time-that-we-began-to-laugh-and-cry-and-cry-and-laugh-about-it/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“I followed the course From chaos to art Desire the horse Depression the cart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-followed-the-course-from-chaos-to-art-desire-the-horse-depression/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) [Explore all 543 Leonard Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) ## More Friendship quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“ever day Maureen is Selfish To her friend and Family One she get mad at her friend and family and She need to Grad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-andeson/ever-day-maureen-is-selfish-to-her-friend-and-family-one-she-get-mad/) Maureen Andeson > [I'm trying to write a film with my friend. I'd love to get the thrill of speaking actors making my work even funnier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-howard/i-m-trying-to-write-a-film-with-my-friend-i-d-love-to-get-the-thrill/) [Russell Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-howard/) > [I gave my archive to Emory University because there's a really dear friend who teaches there, Rudolph Byrd, and he's the editor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/i-gave-my-archive-to-emory-university-because-there-s-a-really-dear/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [Friends are like stars you can't always see them, but you know they're there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknwon/friends-are-like-stars-you-can-t-always-see-them-but-you-know-they-re/) Unknwon > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [If you love some one for who they are not for there body or how many friend so when you say I love you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unknow/if-you-love-some-one-for-who-they-are-not-for-there-body-or-how-many/) Unknow > [“But my best friend from college was silent for a long time. She, of all of my friends, had seen the parade of sad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-groff/but-my-best-friend-from-college-was-silent-for-a-long-time-she-of-all/) [Lauren Groff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-groff/) > [You smile upon your friend to-day, To-day his ills are over; You hearken to the lover's say, And happy is the lover. 'Tis late…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-smile-upon-your-friend-to-day-to-day-his-ills-are-over-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“way. A true friend isn't the one that agrees with everything you say or do. A true friend is someone that has your back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shameek-speight/way-a-true-friend-isn-t-the-one-that-agrees-with-everything-you-say/) [Shameek Speight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shameek-speight/) > [No one is completely unhappy at the failure of his best friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/groucho-marx/no-one-is-completely-unhappy-at-the-failure-of-his-best-friend/) [Groucho Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/groucho-marx/) > [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [I have friends and family that identify as LGBTQ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-mace/i-have-friends-and-family-that-identify-as-lgbtq/) [Nancy Mace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-mace/) > [“The real purpose of friendship was to discover and exploit weakness in others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-thompson/the-real-purpose-of-friendship-was-to-discover-and-exploit-weakness/) [Brian Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-thompson/) [Browse all 45,469 Friendship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Friend, when you speak this carefully I know it is because you don't know what to say.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leonard Cohen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/friend-when-you-speak-this-carefully-i-know-it-is-because-you-don-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Friendship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/friend-when-you-speak-this-carefully-i-know-it-is-because-you-don-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/leonard-cohen-448_friendship_friend-when-you-speak-this-carefully-i-k_2055941.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/leonard-cohen-448_friendship_friend-when-you-speak-this-carefully-i-k_2055941.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5c0/leonard-cohen-448_friendship_friend-when-you-speak-this-carefully-i-k_2055941.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Friend, when you speak this carefully I know it is because you don't know what to say.” — Leonard Cohen", "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": "Leonard Cohen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Friend, when you speak this carefully...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/friend-when-you-speak-this-carefully-i-know-it-is-because-you-don-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/friend-when-you-speak-this-carefully-i-know-it-is-because-you-don-t/#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 } } ] } ```