--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He brought both hands up and said, You…" description: "\"“He brought both hands up and said, You can speak the old-fashioned way. I can hear you, remember? I blinked at him and after a few seconds brought my ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/mia-sheridan-1975_quote_he-brought-both-hands-up-and-said-you-ca_2093863.jpg" --- # He brought both hands up and said, You can speak the… ![“He brought both hands up and said, You can speak the old-fashioned way. I can hear you, remember? I blinked at him and after a few seconds brought my hands up. If it's okay with you, I'd like to speak your language. I smiled a small smile.” quote by Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/mia-sheridan-1975_quote_he-brought-both-hands-up-and-said-you-ca_2093863.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/mia-sheridan-1975_quote_he-brought-both-hands-up-and-said-you-ca_2093863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8dd/mia-sheridan-1975_quote_he-brought-both-hands-up-and-said-you-ca_2093863.jpg) > ““He brought both hands up and said, You can speak the old-fashioned way. I can hear you, remember? I blinked at him and after a few seconds brought my hands up. If it's okay with you, I'd like to speak your language. I smiled a small smile.”” [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The narrator offers to adapt communication style to connect, showing respect and willingness to meet others where they are. **In simple terms:** Adapt your communication to understand others. Key Takeaway Listen and adjust your language. Themes communication empathy adaptability Mood thoughtful empathetic Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - cross‑cultural talks - conflict resolution Key Concepts social interaction cultural sensitivity active listening Questions to Reflect On - When is it best to keep your own style? - How do you balance authenticity and adaptation? A Different Perspective Changing style may dilute authenticity if overused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hands Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hands-said-325284/) [Language Smiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-smiled-2659428/) [Smiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled/) [Smiled Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled-small-1384750/) [Speak Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-old-1823487/) ## Related quotes > [Now and again he spoke to those that served him and thanked them in their own language. They smiled at him and said laughing:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/now-and-again-he-spoke-to-those-that-served-him-and-thanked-them-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He smiled - that small, secret smile he saved just for me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-simmons/he-smiled-that-small-secret-smile-he-saved-just-for-me/) [Kristen Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-simmons/) > [What should we speak of When we are old as you? when we shall hear The rain and wind beat dark December? how, In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-should-we-speak-of-when-we-are-old-as-you-when-we-shall-hear-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I think as a celebrity, we have to teach the young generation how to speak with the old generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/i-think-as-a-celebrity-we-have-to-teach-the-young-generation-how-to/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [“whatever tongue we speak the old ghost asserts itself in dusky echoes”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-nichols/whatever-tongue-we-speak-the-old-ghost-asserts-itself-in-dusky-echoes/) [Grace Nichols](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-nichols/) > [Those that cannot produce ideas often speak with the old proverbs!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/those-that-cannot-produce-ideas-often-speak-with-the-old-proverbs/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Words, not hands,' said Layne. She poked Gabriel with a fork. 'I think you need a T shirt that says that.' He leaned in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-kemmerer/words-not-hands-said-layne-she-poked-gabriel-with-a-fork-i-think-you/) [Brigid Kemmerer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-kemmerer/) > [“Golden hands. It is said that all Poles have them, and that this is how you know your place in life, by the ease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigid-pasulka/golden-hands-it-is-said-that-all-poles-have-them-and-that-this-is-how/) [Brigid Pasulka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigid-pasulka/) > [“They're beautiful hands," he said; "though they've ruined the world, they're beautiful hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-williams/they-re-beautiful-hands-he-said-though-they-ve-ruined-the-world-they/) [Charles Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-williams/) > [“Shifting my weight and readjusting my stance, I'm eventually able to do like he wants, floating up and down in the palms of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorge-leedy/shifting-my-weight-and-readjusting-my-stance-i-m-eventually-able-to/) [Giorge Leedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorge-leedy/) > [At home in South Africa I have sometimes said in big meetings where you have black and white together: 'Raise your hands!' Then I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/at-home-in-south-africa-i-have-sometimes-said-in-big-meetings-where/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“To pick you up, Frank, I'm going to have to put both my hands on you", I said. "That will be alright", he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-claiborne-johnson/to-pick-you-up-frank-i-m-going-to-have-to-put-both-my-hands-on-you-i/) [Julia Claiborne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-claiborne-johnson/) > [“This watch my father gave me when I entered the Ministry. I would like to give you more. Take it, Huw. It has marked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-llewellyn/this-watch-my-father-gave-me-when-i-entered-the-ministry-i-would-like/) [Richard Llewellyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-llewellyn/) > [“The future is in your hands, she resumed. She held her own hands out to us, the ancient gesture that was both an offering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-future-is-in-your-hands-she-resumed-she-held-her-own-hands-out-to/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“If I ever lay my hands on you,” he said low and husky, “You’ll want it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-douglas/if-i-ever-lay-my-hands-on-you-he-said-low-and-husky-you-ll-want-it/) [Penelope Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-douglas/) ## More by Mia Sheridan > [“I'm going to lay it out straight for you here, Carson. And the reason that I'm going to do that is because I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/i-m-going-to-lay-it-out-straight-for-you-here-carson-and-the-reason/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“You only throw a punch for two reasons: if someone hits you first, or to protect the honor of a woman.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/you-only-throw-a-punch-for-two-reasons-if-someone-hits-you-first-or/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“ I know I'm probably the last person you want to see right now, but I thought if I sat on your porch, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/i-know-i-m-probably-the-last-person-you-want-to-see-right-now-but-i/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“Suddenly I’m on my back and he’s over me. “You want to play, beautiful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/suddenly-i-m-on-my-back-and-he-s-over-me-you-want-to-play-beautiful/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“I didn’t make the rules, sweetheart, but I’m damned well going to play by them. And if you want me to do the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/i-didn-t-make-the-rules-sweetheart-but-i-m-damned-well-going-to-play/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“Oh, believe me, you want to know. Why it matters is because someday when Princess is screaming at three in the morning with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/oh-believe-me-you-want-to-know-why-it-matters-is-because-someday-when/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“Loving another person always means opening yourself up for hurt”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/loving-another-person-always-means-opening-yourself-up-for-hurt/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“I was being touched by Carson Stinger, Straight Male Performer! No! Yes! Yes! Yes! Three yes’s to one no. Majority rules!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/i-was-being-touched-by-carson-stinger-straight-male-performer-no-yes/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“Way I see it, maybe it’s not so unfair, as unfinished. If you stopped in the middle of a lot of stories, they’d seem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/way-i-see-it-maybe-it-s-not-so-unfair-as-unfinished-if-you-stopped-in/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“Everyone tells a story about who they are in their own head. That story defines you, dictating all your actions and all your mistakes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/everyone-tells-a-story-about-who-they-are-in-their-own-head-that/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“―Y también me gusta la forma en que me haces sentir. Si me miraras así todos los días, como me estás mirando ahora, podría…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/y-tambi-n-me-gusta-la-forma-en-que-me-haces-sentir-si-me-miraras-as/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“It’s not the things you do with love and good intentions that you end up regretting. It’s the things you don’t do that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/it-s-not-the-things-you-do-with-love-and-good-intentions-that-you-end/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“Life is a series of things we choose and things we carry”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/life-is-a-series-of-things-we-choose-and-things-we-carry/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“Sometimes you don’t even realize anything is wrong until someone comes along and changes you, and makes you want more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/sometimes-you-don-t-even-realize-anything-is-wrong-until-someone/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [“It suddenly occurred to me that Archer Hale had taught himself an entire language, but hadn't had a single person to talk to. Until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/it-suddenly-occurred-to-me-that-archer-hale-had-taught-himself-an/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) [Explore all 188 Mia Sheridan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) ## More Smiled quotes > [“She smiled at and spoke to each person. It was as though she couldn't come into contact with anyone or anything without imparting some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/she-smiled-at-and-spoke-to-each-person-it-was-as-though-she-couldn-t/) [M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/) > [So," I said. "Seems you're going to be stuck with me for a while." He smiled. A real smile that lit up his whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/so-i-said-seems-you-re-going-to-be-stuck-with-me-for-a-while-he/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [She smiled with all the delight of a kid on Christmas morning and said, "Y'all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die." -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/she-smiled-with-all-the-delight-of-a-kid-on-christmas-morning-and/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [When they took me to do the camera test for the vampire make up, after they put the prosthetic on, I went though the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-benz/when-they-took-me-to-do-the-camera-test-for-the-vampire-make-up-after/) [Julie Benz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-benz/) > [“They didn't understand, it not being directed at them, what that smile could do. The power of it. It was like every time he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-ashley/they-didn-t-understand-it-not-being-directed-at-them-what-that-smile/) [Kristen Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-ashley/) > [“Inej frowned. “I thought you and Nina chose four outbreak sites on the Staves.” Kaz straightened his cuffs. “I also had her stop at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/inej-frowned-i-thought-you-and-nina-chose-four-outbreak-sites-on-the/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [“Miss Craven held up a pair she thought would fit me—monstrous great things they were, of course, and I thought she smiled as she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/miss-craven-held-up-a-pair-she-thought-would-fit-me-monstrous-great/) [Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/) > [“That man had blond hair, all right, and he smiled and showed all his teeth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-chandler-warner/that-man-had-blond-hair-all-right-and-he-smiled-and-showed-all-his/) [Gertrude Chandler Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-chandler-warner/) > [“Then, with one of his quick changes of mood, he smiled. “Yes, there’s one thing I do want. I want to be aware of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/then-with-one-of-his-quick-changes-of-mood-he-smiled-yes-there-s-one/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Kurt smiled a shy smile. "You're just trying to cheer me up," he said. "Course I am," Andy said. "You deserve to be full…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-doctorow/kurt-smiled-a-shy-smile-you-re-just-trying-to-cheer-me-up-he-said/) [Cory Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-doctorow/) > [“He smiled sadly. "I was lost from the moment I saw you on Ovchinin Island. It took a long while for me to realize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-skye/he-smiled-sadly-i-was-lost-from-the-moment-i-saw-you-on-ovchinin/) [Evelyn Skye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-skye/) > [He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?” She sighed. “I suppose.” “You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/he-put-his-arms-around-her-well-in-my-defense-then-whatever-i-did/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [“Have you ever done this before?" "Done what?" "Attacked two armed men with sticks?" "No, but I'm looking forward to it," he smiled.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lenahan/have-you-ever-done-this-before-done-what-attacked-two-armed-men-with/) [John Lenahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lenahan/) > [“That’s it?” He smiled. “That’s it, unless you’d like to meet again sometime. Perhaps we could haggle over a dinner plate or a piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-andre/that-s-it-he-smiled-that-s-it-unless-you-d-like-to-meet-again/) [Becca Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-andre/) > [“Oh ... why not?' he smiled. "This valley is a pleasant spot for meditation. I like New England... it is here that I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/oh-why-not-he-smiled-this-valley-is-a-pleasant-spot-for-meditation-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 1,165 Smiled quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He brought both hands up and said, You can speak the old-fashioned way. I can hear you, remember? I blinked at him and after a few seconds brought my hands up. If it's okay with you, I'd like to speak your language. 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