---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Who is that?” Alec asked, puzzled by the…"
description: "\"“Who is that?” Alec asked, puzzled by the man’s silence. “That’s Rhiri. He’s deaf, mute, and absolutely loyal. Best servant I ever found.”\" — Lynn Flew..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/lynn-flewelling-19598_servant_who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-ma_2779180.png"
---

#  Who is that?” Alec asked, puzzled by the man’s silence…

![“Who is that?” Alec asked, puzzled by the man’s silence. “That’s Rhiri. He’s deaf, mute, and absolutely loyal. Best servant I ever found.” quote by Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/lynn-flewelling-19598_servant_who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-ma_2779180.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/lynn-flewelling-19598_servant_who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-ma_2779180.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/lynn-flewelling-19598_servant_who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-ma_2779180.png)

> ““Who is that?” Alec asked, puzzled by the man’s silence. “That’s Rhiri. He’s deaf, mute, and absolutely loyal. Best servant I ever found.””

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A deaf, mute, loyal character named Rhiri exemplifies steadfast service despite communication barriers.

**In simple terms:** Rhiri, a loyal servant, is deaf and mute.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate loyalty beyond words.

Themes

loyalty disability service identity

Mood

empathetic respectful

Type

narrative character‑driven

When to use this quote

- workplace
- friendship
- team dynamics
- support roles

Key Concepts

altruism inclusion

Questions to Reflect On

- How do we recognize loyalty without verbal cues?
- What challenges do disabled individuals face in service roles?

A Different Perspective

Loyalty may be tested by communication gaps.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Servant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/)

## Related quotes

> [“How many other people?" Alec asked. "Roughly." Magnus shook his head. "I can't count, and it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/how-many-other-people-alec-asked-roughly-magnus-shook-his-head-i-can/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“There’s something really creepy about the doors being open,” Mark whispered. “And it’s so dark inside the rooms.” “What’s your point?” Alec asked. “Ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-dashner/there-s-something-really-creepy-about-the-doors-being-open-mark/)

[James Dashner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-dashner/)

> [“Don't talk." Alec gestured at him with an expression of vague disgust. "Every time I look at you, I keep remembering coming in here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/don-t-talk-alec-gestured-at-him-with-an-expression-of-vague-disgust/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Did you know we were leaving for Idris?" "Catarina told me she'd been summoned to make a portal. I guessed," Magnus said wryly. "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/did-you-know-we-were-leaving-for-idris-catarina-told-me-she-d-been/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“Is this your way of telling me to shut my face?” Jace inquired. “Remember when you mocked me for sneaking around with Magnus and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/is-this-your-way-of-telling-me-to-shut-my-face-jace-inquired-remember/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [“He is Thy best servant who looks not so much to hear that from Thee which himself willeth, as rather to will that, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo/he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so-much-to-hear-that-from-thee/)

St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo

> [Everyone wanted to be the best. Best student. Best servant. Best Christian. They got caught up in it, pressing and pushing until they forgot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-rivers/everyone-wanted-to-be-the-best-best-student-best-servant-best/)

[Francine Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-rivers/)

> [Your best servant is the person who does not attend so much to hearing what he himself wants as to willing what he has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-best-servant-is-the-person-who-does-not-attend-so-much-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The best servant does his work unseen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-best-servant-does-his-work-unseen/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“He is Thy best servant who looks not so much to hear that from Whee which himself willeth, as rather to will that, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-augustine-bishop-of-hippo/he-is-thy-best-servant-who-looks-not-so-much-to-hear-that-from-whee/)

St. Augustine Bishop of Hippo

> [The noblest service comes from nameless hands; and the best servant does his work unseen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/the-noblest-service-comes-from-nameless-hands-and-the-best-servant/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/)

> [But in the secret history of anger--one man's silence / lives in the bodies of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilya-kaminsky/but-in-the-secret-history-of-anger-one-man-s-silence-lives-in-the/)

[Ilya Kaminsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilya-kaminsky/)

> [That man's silence is wonderful to listen to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/that-man-s-silence-is-wonderful-to-listen-to/)

[Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/)

> [You don't need to be told some things. You can sometimes tell more by a man's silence and the set of his head than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/you-don-t-need-to-be-told-some-things-you-can-sometimes-tell-more-by/)

[Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/)

> [A fool is known by his speech; and a wise man by silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pythagoras/a-fool-is-known-by-his-speech-and-a-wise-man-by-silence/)

[Pythagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pythagoras/)

## More by Lynn Flewelling

> [“In Skala warfare is a womanly thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/in-skala-warfare-is-a-womanly-thing/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“These are Plenimaran marines, and there's not much most of them aren't capable of, if you take my meaning." "I don't think I do,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/these-are-plenimaran-marines-and-there-s-not-much-most-of-them-aren-t/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“First shall be the Guardian, a vessel of light in the darkness. Then the Shaft and the Vanguard, who shall fail and yet not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/first-shall-be-the-guardian-a-vessel-of-light-in-the-darkness-then/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“Come on, Seregil, let's show him how it's done." "I'm busy," replied Seregil, working on a tricky bit of fingering. Moving to stand over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/come-on-seregil-let-s-show-him-how-it-s-done-i-m-busy-replied-seregil/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“I want to come with you, but first you’ve got to give me a few straight answers.” “It’s against my nature, but I’ll try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/i-want-to-come-with-you-but-first-you-ve-got-to-give-me-a-few/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“Cursed be the weapon that tastes the blood of a friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/cursed-be-the-weapon-that-tastes-the-blood-of-a-friend/)

[lynn flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“So I might have to marry Alec when I'm grown," Illia was prattling across to Seregil. "I hope that won't hurt your feelings too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/so-i-might-have-to-marry-alec-when-i-m-grown-illia-was-prattling/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“It is better to lack the semblance of honor but possess it than to possess the semblance and lack the honor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/it-is-better-to-lack-the-semblance-of-honor-but-possess-it-than-to/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“He couldn’t imagine what had made his father so angry or the townspeople so mean, but he knew with a child’s sudden, clear conviction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/he-couldn-t-imagine-what-had-made-his-father-so-angry-or-the/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“Though you thrust a knife at my eyes, I will not flinch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/though-you-thrust-a-knife-at-my-eyes-i-will-not-flinch/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“Talí." It was the only thing Seregil could think of that encompassed everything he felt right now. Alec smiled. "You called me that by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/tal-it-was-the-only-thing-seregil-could-think-of-that-encompassed/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [A writer can't just be well-educated or good at research; to build a living, breathing world with interesting characters, you have to write from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/a-writer-can-t-just-be-well-educated-or-good-at-research-to-build-a/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“At court you must say less than you think and only speak as much of the truth as will do you good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/at-court-you-must-say-less-than-you-think-and-only-speak-as-much-of/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [“Tobin had spent the first twelve years of his life living a lie, and the last two trying to ignore the truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/tobin-had-spent-the-first-twelve-years-of-his-life-living-a-lie-and/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

> [Jane Kindred’s THE HOUSE OF ARKHANGEL'SK dazzles with its surreal blending of worlds. Lost angel Anazakia, last survivor of her murdered family, finds herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/jane-kindred-s-the-house-of-arkhangel-sk-dazzles-with-its-surreal/)

[Lynn Flewelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

[Explore all 32 Lynn Flewelling quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/)

## More Servant quotes

> [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [In relations between the rich and the strong, between the rich and the poor, between the master and the servant, it's liberty that grinds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relations-between-the-rich-and-the-strong-between-the-rich-and-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/)

[L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/)

> [Laws are not masters but servants, and he rules them who obey them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/laws-are-not-masters-but-servants-and-he-rules-them-who-obey-them/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [If you are the master be sometimes blind, if you are the servant be sometimes deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-buckminster-fuller/if-you-are-the-master-be-sometimes-blind-if-you-are-the-servant-be/)

[R. Buckminster Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-buckminster-fuller/)

> [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/)

[Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/)

> [Great God of the Ants, thou hast granted victory to thy servants. I appoint thee honorary Colonel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karel-capek/great-god-of-the-ants-thou-hast-granted-victory-to-thy-servants-i/)

[Karel Capek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karel-capek/)

> [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/)

[Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/)

> [In politics we face the choice between warmongering, nation-state loving, big-business agents on one hand; and risk-blind, top-down, epistemic arrogant big servants of large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/in-politics-we-face-the-choice-between-warmongering-nation-state/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [The extraordinary woman depends on the ordinary woman. It is only when we know what were the conditions of the average woman's life -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-woolf/the-extraordinary-woman-depends-on-the-ordinary-woman-it-is-only-when/)

[Virginia Woolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-woolf/)

> [Man becomes not the lord and master of all creation but he is its servant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/man-becomes-not-the-lord-and-master-of-all-creation-but-he-is-its/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [Do not value money for any more nor any less than its worth; it is a good servant but a bad master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-alexandre-dumas/do-not-value-money-for-any-more-nor-any-less-than-its-worth-it-is-a/)

Thomas-Alexandre Dumas

> [“Miss Fields," said a servant, stepping into the room and closing the door, "There is a visitor for you. Are you in?" Clare blinked.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-starbuck/miss-fields-said-a-servant-stepping-into-the-room-and-closing-the/)

[Sam Starbuck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-starbuck/)

> [“king of Heshbon. 6 b Moses, the servant of the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/king-of-heshbon-6-b-moses-the-servant-of-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Socialism would gather all power to the supreme party and party leaders, rising like stately pinnacles above their vast bureaucracies of civil servants no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/socialism-would-gather-all-power-to-the-supreme-party-and-party/)

[Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/)

[Browse all 1,519 Servant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/servant/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Who is that?” Alec asked, puzzled by the man’s silence. “That’s Rhiri. He’s deaf, mute, and absolutely loyal. Best servant I ever found.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Lynn Flewelling"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-man-s-silence-that-s-rhiri-he-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Servant"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-man-s-silence-that-s-rhiri-he-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/lynn-flewelling-19598_servant_who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-ma_2779180.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/lynn-flewelling-19598_servant_who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-ma_2779180.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00a/lynn-flewelling-19598_servant_who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-ma_2779180.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Who is that?” Alec asked, puzzled by the man’s silence. “That’s Rhiri. He’s deaf, mute, and absolutely…” — Lynn Flewelling",
                "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": "Lynn Flewelling",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-flewelling/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Who is that?” Alec asked, puzzled...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-man-s-silence-that-s-rhiri-he-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-flewelling/who-is-that-alec-asked-puzzled-by-the-man-s-silence-that-s-rhiri-he-s/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
