Skip to content

Words Quote by Mark Z. Danielewski

“Our lips just trespassed on those inner labyrinths hidden deep within our ears, filled them with the private music of wicked words, hers in many languages, mine in the off color of my own tongue, until as our tones shifted, and our consonants spun and squealed, rattled faster, hesitated, raced…” quote by Mark Z. Danielewski
Download Open image
““Our lips just trespassed on those inner labyrinths hidden deep within our ears, filled them with the private music of wicked words, hers in many languages, mine in the off color of my own tongue, until as our tones shifted, and our consonants spun and squealed, rattled faster, hesitated, raced harder, syllables soon melting with groans, or moans finding purchase in new words, or old words, or made-up words, until we gathered up our heat and refused to release it, enjoying too much the dark language we had suddenly stumbled upon, craved to, carved to, not a communication really but a channeling of our rumored desires, hers for all I know gone to Black Forests and wolves, mine banging back to a familiar form, that great revenant mystery I still could only hear the shape of, which in spite of our separate lusts and individual cries still continued to drive us deeper into stranger tones, our mutual desire to keep gripping the burn fueled by sound, hers screeching, mine – I didn’t hear mine – only hears, probably counter-pointing mine, a high-pitched cry, then a whisper dropping unexpectedly to practically a bark, a grunt, whatever, no sense any more, and suddenly no more curves either, just the straight away, some line crossed, where every fractured sound already spoken finally compacts into one long agonizing word, easily exceeding a hundred letters, even thunder, anticipating the inevitable letting go, when the heat is ultimately too much to bear, threatening to burn, scar, tear it all apart, yet tempting enough to hold onto for even one second more, to extend it all, if we can, as if by getting that much closer to the heat, that much more enveloped, would prove … - which when we did clutch, hold, postpone, did in fact prove too much after all, seconds too much, and impossible to refuse, so blowing all of everything apart, shivers and shakes and deep in her throat a thousand letters crashing in a long unmodulated fall, resonating deep within my cochlea and down the cochlear nerve, a last fit of fury describing in lasting detail the shape of things already come. Too bad dark languages rarely survive.””

Mark Z. Danielewski

About This Quote

Source Novel: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski, 2000

The passage explores how intense, private language can become a conduit for hidden desires, turning communication into a visceral, almost dangerous exchange.

In simple terms: Intense private language reveals hidden desires and can become overwhelming.

Key Takeaway

Recognize when language becomes a tool for obsession.

Themes

desire language intimacy danger obsession

Mood

intense conflicted reflective

Type

poetic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • intimate conversations
  • creative writing
  • conflict resolution
  • therapeutic dialogue

Key Concepts

psychology linguistics sensory overload

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does language shape desire?
  • When does intimacy become harmful?
A Different Perspective

The intensity can alienate partners and obscure genuine connection.

4.9 out of 5 (6 ratings)

More by Mark Z. Danielewski

Explore all 162 Mark Z. Danielewski quotes

More Words quotes

Browse all 8,788 Words quotes