--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Cats have a contempt of speech. Why…" description: "\"Cats have a contempt of speech. Why should they talk when they can communicate without words?\" — Lilian Jackson Braun" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/lilian-jackson-braun-11302_cat_cats-have-a-contempt-of-speech-why-shoul_689851.png" --- # Cats have a contempt of speech. Why should they talk when… ![“Cats have a contempt of speech. Why should they talk when they can communicate without words?” quote by Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/lilian-jackson-braun-11302_cat_cats-have-a-contempt-of-speech-why-shoul_689851.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/lilian-jackson-braun-11302_cat_cats-have-a-contempt-of-speech-why-shoul_689851.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2e5/lilian-jackson-braun-11302_cat_cats-have-a-contempt-of-speech-why-shoul_689851.png) > “Cats have a contempt of speech. Why should they talk when they can communicate without words?” [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cats prefer non‑verbal communication; they don’t need speech because they convey meaning through other means. **In simple terms:** Cats communicate without words. Key Takeaway Observe non‑verbal cues. Themes animals communication non‑verbal Mood curious observational Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - human‑cat interactions - pet training Key Concepts ethology behavioral science Questions to Reflect On - What can we learn from silent communication? - How does non‑verbal behavior shape relationships? A Different Perspective Assuming all animals think like humans can be misleading. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) [Cats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cats/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Contempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contempt/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) ## Related quotes > [I generally feel that the solution to speech that people find offensive is more speech. You should talk about it, discuss it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-tapper/i-generally-feel-that-the-solution-to-speech-that-people-find/) [Jake Tapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-tapper/) > [“We no longer have a sufficiently high estimate of ourselves when we communicate. Our true experiences are not garrulous. They could not communicate themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/we-no-longer-have-a-sufficiently-high-estimate-of-ourselves-when-we/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [To communicate, put your words in order; give them a purpose; use them to persuade, to instruct, to discover, to seduce.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-safire/to-communicate-put-your-words-in-order-give-them-a-purpose-use-them/) [William Safire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-safire/) > [Language is the principal tool with which we communicate; but when words are used carelessly or mistakenly, what was intended to advance mutual understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-copi/language-is-the-principal-tool-with-which-we-communicate-but-when/) Irving Copi > [“If I could communicate only by words on a page, how much more satisfactory I would be!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-barber/if-i-could-communicate-only-by-words-on-a-page-how-much-more/) [Lynn Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-barber/) > [“To say exactly what one means, even to one's own private satisfaction, is difficult. To say exactly what one means and to involve another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/to-say-exactly-what-one-means-even-to-one-s-own-private-satisfaction/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [Language exists to communicate whatever it can communicate. Some things it communicates so badly that we never attempt to communicate them by words if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/language-exists-to-communicate-whatever-it-can-communicate-some/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [“If he could communicate to her with his body, perhaps he failed to see the need to communicate with words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvain-reynard/if-he-could-communicate-to-her-with-his-body-perhaps-he-failed-to-see/) [Sylvain Reynard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvain-reynard/) > [Language is never fully trustworthy, but when it comes to eating animals, words are as often used to misdirect and camouflage as they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/language-is-never-fully-trustworthy-but-when-it-comes-to-eating/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“There were some things gestures could communicate that words never could.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sm-reine/there-were-some-things-gestures-could-communicate-that-words-never/) SM Reine > [I do not communicate by words alone. In fact, rarely do I do so. 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Donald Trump mainly shows contempt for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-wolfowitz/our-security-depends-on-having-good-relationships-with-our-allies/) [Paul Wolfowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-wolfowitz/) > [The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-contempt-for-law-and-the-contempt-for-the-human-consequences-of/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Too much familiarity breeds contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/too-much-familiarity-breeds-contempt/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) ## More by Lilian Jackson Braun > [“that's what i mean about cats. they're always trying to make fools of us humans.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/that-s-what-i-mean-about-cats-they-re-always-trying-to-make-fools-of/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“No one had ever accused Koko of being naughty. Perverse, perhaps, or arrogant, or despotic. But naughtiness was beneath his dignity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/no-one-had-ever-accused-koko-of-being-naughty-perverse-perhaps-or/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [Home is where i hang my toothbrush and where the cats have their commode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/home-is-where-i-hang-my-toothbrush-and-where-the-cats-have-their/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“Amanda raised her glass in a toast. “Here’s a wet one to Saint Iris of the Hummocks!” Then she winced and scowled at Riker,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/amanda-raised-her-glass-in-a-toast-here-s-a-wet-one-to-saint-iris-of/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“A female feline named Katta Is getting fatta and fatta But she's pretty and purry And funny and furry So what does an ounce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/a-female-feline-named-katta-is-getting-fatta-and-fatta-but-she-s/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [Cats never strike a pose that isn't photogenic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/cats-never-strike-a-pose-that-isn-t-photogenic/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“The cranks are always with us,” Qwilleran said, “hiding behind trees, peeking around corners, going about in disguise, and plotting their selfish little schemes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/the-cranks-are-always-with-us-qwilleran-said-hiding-behind-trees/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“Enchanté!” said Qwilleran, bending low over her hand in a courtly gesture. Then he drew from his pocket a perfect Bosc pear with bronze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/enchant-said-qwilleran-bending-low-over-her-hand-in-a-courtly-gesture/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [Small birds throw seeds out of the feeder; large birds pick them up off the ground, but the squirrels try to muscle in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/small-birds-throw-seeds-out-of-the-feeder-large-birds-pick-them-up/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“Then one day he sent her a single long-stemmed rose with the famous Hfez of Shrz poem that you probably know.” She recited the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/then-one-day-he-sent-her-a-single-long-stemmed-rose-with-the-famous/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“He agreed with Francis Bacon: Old friends to trust, old wood to burn, old authors to read.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/he-agreed-with-francis-bacon-old-friends-to-trust-old-wood-to-burn/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“How do you describe your style?” he asked as they drove back to the rocky beach. “Descriptive but not realistic. Makes viewers use a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/how-do-you-describe-your-style-he-asked-as-they-drove-back-to-the/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“Qwilleran’s Siamese cat was a celebrity at the Press Club. Koko’s portrait hung in the lobby along with Pulitzer Prize winners, and he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/qwilleran-s-siamese-cat-was-a-celebrity-at-the-press-club-koko-s/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“In mid-morning, Qwilleran set out from the barn carrying a baker’s box tied with red plaid ribbon. He said goodbye to the cats, told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/in-mid-morning-qwilleran-set-out-from-the-barn-carrying-a-baker-s-box/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) > [“He also entered a bookstore called “Books ‘n’ Stuff,” that stocked more videos and greeting cards than books. Furthermore, its supermarket lighting and background…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-jackson-braun/he-also-entered-a-bookstore-called-books-n-stuff-that-stocked-more/) [Lilian Jackson Braun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) [Explore all 60 Lilian Jackson Braun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-jackson-braun/) ## More Cat quotes > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. 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The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [If you ask me to tell you anything about the nature of what lies beyond the phaneron… my answer is “How should I know?”……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/if-you-ask-me-to-tell-you-anything-about-the-nature-of-what-lies/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou ow'st the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-man-no-more-than-this-consider-him-well-thou-ow-st-the-worm-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [One cat just leads to another. The place is so damned big it doesn't really seem as though there were many cats until you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/one-cat-just-leads-to-another-the-place-is-so-damned-big-it-doesn-t/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [In the olden days in England, you could be hung for stealing a sheep or a loaf of bread. However, if a sheep stole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-harding/in-the-olden-days-in-england-you-could-be-hung-for-stealing-a-sheep/) [Mike Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-harding/) > [Kittens can happen to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gallico/kittens-can-happen-to-anyone/) [Paul Gallico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gallico/) > [I think if you keep the box closed long enough you do kill the cat, actually.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-think-if-you-keep-the-box-closed-long-enough-you-do-kill-the-cat/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“All right, you deadly little ghostlings,” I muttered. “Mama says go back to bed! - Cat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/all-right-you-deadly-little-ghostlings-i-muttered-mama-says-go-back/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Man wishes woman to be peaceable, but in fact she is essentially warlike, like the cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/man-wishes-woman-to-be-peaceable-but-in-fact-she-is-essentially/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [There are videos I used to take at home, pretending to be a newscaster, interviewing the teapot or my house cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-wagner/there-are-videos-i-used-to-take-at-home-pretending-to-be-a-newscaster/) [Alex Wagner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-wagner/) [Browse all 2,996 Cat quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cat/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Cats have a contempt of speech. 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