--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think...\" then you shouldn't…" description: "\"I don't think...\" then you shouldn't talk, said the Hatter.\" — Lewis Carroll" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8d/lewis-carroll-324_remaining-silent_i-don-t-think-then-you-shouldn-t-talk-sa_1725824.jpg" --- # I don't think..." then you shouldn't talk, said the Hatter. ![“I don't think..." then you shouldn't talk, said the Hatter.” quote by Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8d/lewis-carroll-324_remaining-silent_i-don-t-think-then-you-shouldn-t-talk-sa_1725824.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8d/lewis-carroll-324_remaining-silent_i-don-t-think-then-you-shouldn-t-talk-sa_1725824.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8d/lewis-carroll-324_remaining-silent_i-don-t-think-then-you-shouldn-t-talk-sa_1725824.jpg) > “I don't think..." then you shouldn't talk, said the Hatter.” [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The Hatter warns that speaking without thought leads to nonsense and confusion. **In simple terms:** Talk only when you have something meaningful. Key Takeaway Think before you speak. Themes communication thoughtfulness silence Mood reflective playful Type advice literary When to use this quote - social gatherings - debates - personal reflection Key Concepts logic absurdity self‑control Questions to Reflect On - When have you spoken without meaning? - How can silence improve dialogue? A Different Perspective May stifle spontaneity or honest expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hatter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatter/) [Remaining silent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remaining-silent/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Yes, that's it! Said the Hatter with a sigh, it's always tea time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/yes-that-s-it-said-the-hatter-with-a-sigh-it-s-always-tea-time/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“Not the same thing a bit!” said the Hatter. “You might just as well say that ‘I see what I eat’ is the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/not-the-same-thing-a-bit-said-the-hatter-you-might-just-as-well-say/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“You mean you ca’n’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-mean-you-ca-n-t-take-less-said-the-hatter-it-s-very-easy-to-take/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“Well that's it: if you don't think, you shouldn't talk!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/well-that-s-it-if-you-don-t-think-you-shouldn-t-talk/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [I dare say you never even spoke to Time!" "Perhaps not," Alice cautiously replied; "but I know I have to beat time when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-dare-say-you-never-even-spoke-to-time-perhaps-not-alice-cautiously/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“Your hair wants cutting,” said the Hatter. He had been looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was his first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/your-hair-wants-cutting-said-the-hatter-he-had-been-looking-at-alice/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“Take some more tea," the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. "I've had nothing yet," Alice replied in an offended tone, "so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/take-some-more-tea-the-march-hare-said-to-alice-very-earnestly-i-ve/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“I've had nothing yet,'Alice repilied in an offended tone, 'so I can't takr more.' 'You mean you can't take less.' said the Hatter: '…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-ve-had-nothing-yet-alice-repilied-in-an-offended-tone-so-i-can-t/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [If you don't think, you shouldn't talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniyal-butt/if-you-don-t-think-you-shouldn-t-talk/) [Daniyal Butt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniyal-butt/) > [People who don't think shouldn't talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/people-who-don-t-think-shouldn-t-talk/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“I told you she was the wrong Alice... You've lost your muchness… Hatter!!!! Off With Their Head!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-woolverton/i-told-you-she-was-the-wrong-alice-you-ve-lost-your-muchness-hatter/) [Linda Woolverton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-woolverton/) > [“What’s the point of doing what you’re told if you have no choice in the matter?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-kemper/what-s-the-point-of-doing-what-you-re-told-if-you-have-no-choice-in/) [Cassandra Kemper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-kemper/) > [“To murder freedom…well, that’s to murder my time. And no one should have the right to kill anyone else’s time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-kemper/to-murder-freedom-well-that-s-to-murder-my-time-and-no-one-should/) [Cassandra Kemper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-kemper/) > [“Everything has beauty," she said, "but not everyone sees it." Her stomach hurt, her eyes burned. "I saw you, Hatter." Her words whispered through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-hall/everything-has-beauty-she-said-but-not-everyone-sees-it-her-stomach/) [Marie Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-hall/) > [Mark Jones is mad as a hatter. But, he's great. He's really, really into music. I know he's married and he's got two wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ann-sulley/mark-jones-is-mad-as-a-hatter-but-he-s-great-he-s-really-really-into/) [Susan Ann Sulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ann-sulley/) ## More by Lewis Carroll > [You're thinking about something, my dear, and that makes you forget to talk. I can't tell you just now what the moral of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-re-thinking-about-something-my-dear-and-that-makes-you-forget-to/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“I'm afraid I can't explain myself, sir. Because I am not myself, you see?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-m-afraid-i-can-t-explain-myself-sir-because-i-am-not-myself-you-see/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [My beloved friend - one of the most unique and charming personalities of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/my-beloved-friend-one-of-the-most-unique-and-charming-personalities/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Either it brings tears to their eyes, or else -" "Or else what?" said Alice, for the Knight had made a sudden pause. "Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/either-it-brings-tears-to-their-eyes-or-else-or-else-what-said-alice/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. Then they become gods: then they become demons. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-may-give-our-human-loves-the-unconditional-allegiance-which-we-owe/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [In the midst of the word he was trying to say In the midst of his laughter and glee, He had softly and suddenly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/in-the-midst-of-the-word-he-was-trying-to-say-in-the-midst-of-his/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“But it must be borne in mind that, if there is a Scylla before me, there is also a Charybdis - and that, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/but-it-must-be-borne-in-mind-that-if-there-is-a-scylla-before-me/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might: He did his very best to make The billows smooth and bright--…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/the-sun-was-shining-on-the-sea-shining-with-all-his-might-he-did-his/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“In vain we roared;in vain we tried To rouse her into laughter: Her pensive glances wandered wide From orchestra to rafter - "TIER UPON…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/in-vain-we-roared-in-vain-we-tried-to-rouse-her-into-laughter-her/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [For the snark was a boojum, you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/for-the-snark-was-a-boojum-you-see/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Thanks for your nice little note, though I am sorry to hear you find Through the Looking Glass so uninteresting. You see I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/thanks-for-your-nice-little-note-though-i-am-sorry-to-hear-you-find/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [You shouldn't make jokes if it makes you so unhappy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-shouldn-t-make-jokes-if-it-makes-you-so-unhappy/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [We haven't any and you're too young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/we-haven-t-any-and-you-re-too-young/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [Everything is funny, if you can laugh at it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/everything-is-funny-if-you-can-laugh-at-it/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [I wish I hadn't cried so much!” said Alice, as she swam about, trying to find her way out. I shall be punished for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-wish-i-hadn-t-cried-so-much-said-alice-as-she-swam-about-trying-to/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) [Explore all 644 Lewis Carroll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) ## More Hatter quotes > [Yes, that's it! Said the Hatter with a sigh, it's always tea time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/yes-that-s-it-said-the-hatter-with-a-sigh-it-s-always-tea-time/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“You mean you ca’n’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/you-mean-you-ca-n-t-take-less-said-the-hatter-it-s-very-easy-to-take/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“I told you she was the wrong Alice... You've lost your muchness… Hatter!!!! Off With Their Head!!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-woolverton/i-told-you-she-was-the-wrong-alice-you-ve-lost-your-muchness-hatter/) [Linda Woolverton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-woolverton/) > [“What’s the point of doing what you’re told if you have no choice in the matter?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-kemper/what-s-the-point-of-doing-what-you-re-told-if-you-have-no-choice-in/) [Cassandra Kemper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-kemper/) > [“To murder freedom…well, that’s to murder my time. And no one should have the right to kill anyone else’s time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-kemper/to-murder-freedom-well-that-s-to-murder-my-time-and-no-one-should/) [Cassandra Kemper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-kemper/) > [“Not the same thing a bit!” said the Hatter. “You might just as well say that ‘I see what I eat’ is the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/not-the-same-thing-a-bit-said-the-hatter-you-might-just-as-well-say/) [Lewis Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/) > [“Everything has beauty," she said, "but not everyone sees it." Her stomach hurt, her eyes burned. "I saw you, Hatter." Her words whispered through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-hall/everything-has-beauty-she-said-but-not-everyone-sees-it-her-stomach/) [Marie Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-hall/) > [Mark Jones is mad as a hatter. But, he's great. He's really, really into music. I know he's married and he's got two wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ann-sulley/mark-jones-is-mad-as-a-hatter-but-he-s-great-he-s-really-really-into/) [Susan Ann Sulley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ann-sulley/) > [“Hatter, my love, we never got a chance to say good-bye." --Weaver”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-beddor/hatter-my-love-we-never-got-a-chance-to-say-good-bye-weaver/) [Frank Beddor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-beddor/) [Browse all 10 Hatter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatter/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't think...\" then you shouldn't talk, said the Hatter.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lewis Carroll" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-don-t-think-then-you-shouldn-t-talk-said-the-hatter/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hatter" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-don-t-think-then-you-shouldn-t-talk-said-the-hatter/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8d/lewis-carroll-324_remaining-silent_i-don-t-think-then-you-shouldn-t-talk-sa_1725824.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8d/lewis-carroll-324_remaining-silent_i-don-t-think-then-you-shouldn-t-talk-sa_1725824.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8d/lewis-carroll-324_remaining-silent_i-don-t-think-then-you-shouldn-t-talk-sa_1725824.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think...\" then you shouldn't talk, said the Hatter.” — Lewis Carroll", "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": "Lewis Carroll", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-carroll/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think...\" then you shouldn't...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-don-t-think-then-you-shouldn-t-talk-said-the-hatter/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-carroll/i-don-t-think-then-you-shouldn-t-talk-said-the-hatter/#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 } } ] } ```