---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I may be deprived of eloquence, but my…"
description: "\"“I may be deprived of eloquence, but my mind can never be a dumb.”\" — Michael Bassey Johnson"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/michael-bassey-johnson-311_communicate_i-may-be-deprived-of-eloquence-but-my-mi_1305508.jpg"
---

#  I may be deprived of eloquence, but my mind can never be a…

![“I may be deprived of eloquence, but my mind can never be a dumb.” quote by Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/michael-bassey-johnson-311_communicate_i-may-be-deprived-of-eloquence-but-my-mi_1305508.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/michael-bassey-johnson-311_communicate_i-may-be-deprived-of-eloquence-but-my-mi_1305508.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/michael-bassey-johnson-311_communicate_i-may-be-deprived-of-eloquence-but-my-mi_1305508.jpg)

> ““I may be deprived of eloquence, but my mind can never be a dumb.””

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

## About This Quote

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

The quote asserts that lacking eloquence does not equate to lack of intelligence; mental capacity remains intact despite verbal limitations.

**In simple terms:** Being inarticulate doesn't mean being unintelligent.

Key Takeaway

Value substance over style.

Themes

intelligence communication self‑esteem

Mood

reflective determined

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- public speaking
- writing
- teaching
- debate
- interview

Key Concepts

cognitive ability self‑worth

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you demonstrate intelligence without relying on eloquence?
- What strategies help convey ideas clearly when words feel inadequate?

A Different Perspective

May be perceived as less credible without polished speech.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Deprivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deprivation/) [Dumbness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dumbness/) [Eloquence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eloquence/) [Michael-bassey-johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/michael-bassey-johnson/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Stammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stammer/) [Unspoken words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unspoken-words/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/)

## Related quotes

> [“Before i could utter a word, my listeners had left me long ago.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/before-i-could-utter-a-word-my-listeners-had-left-me-long-ago/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Fear the soldier who stammers, for he is very fast at pulling the triger.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/fear-the-soldier-who-stammers-for-he-is-very-fast-at-pulling-the/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“When you see a stranger, your mouth start dancing like convulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-see-a-stranger-your-mouth-start-dancing-like-convulsion/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“When your stutter is chronic, you wonder what magic fluent people use that makes them sound so fluent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-your-stutter-is-chronic-you-wonder-what-magic-fluent-people-use/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“She thought too that women didn't know what to do with themselves these days which could turn them into harridans. Hardly a female friend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-p-donleavy/she-thought-too-that-women-didn-t-know-what-to-do-with-themselves/)

[J.P. Donleavy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-p-donleavy/)

> [“Can I? Can I speak my mind or am I dumb inside a borrowed language, captive of bastard thoughts? What of me is mine?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/can-i-can-i-speak-my-mind-or-am-i-dumb-inside-a-borrowed-language/)

[Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/)

> [“Words cannot only be made... But made to have a meaning, free the tongue and continue your speech.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/words-cannot-only-be-made-but-made-to-have-a-meaning-free-the-tongue/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Living with a stutter is like fighting in a battlefield. You either slay the words, or get slain by words.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/living-with-a-stutter-is-like-fighting-in-a-battlefield-you-either/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Everybody stuttered, but the fellow who stuttered too much was called a stutterer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/everybody-stuttered-but-the-fellow-who-stuttered-too-much-was-called/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“When you have a defect, some people try not to see it only as a defect, but as your entire identity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-have-a-defect-some-people-try-not-to-see-it-only-as-a-defect/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Stage fright is very common and could be overcomed through step by step processes, but stuttering is a fright that takes time to conquer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/stage-fright-is-very-common-and-could-be-overcomed-through-step-by/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Being nervous. Having anxiety. Stuttering. Autism. When you have any of those, at some point, you're forced to spend most of your time alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/being-nervous-having-anxiety-stuttering-autism-when-you-have-any-of/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“The enigma of stuttering is profound. For in a moment, you would sound very fluent, and at other times, you would struggle to utter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-enigma-of-stuttering-is-profound-for-in-a-moment-you-would-sound/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“There is more to stuttering than the mere repetition of words and phrases. And more to anxiety than just being nervous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-is-more-to-stuttering-than-the-mere-repetition-of-words-and/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [Breathing is fundamental to speech. A stammer is caused by erratic airflow, so if you have a smooth airflow, you have smooth speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-gates/breathing-is-fundamental-to-speech-a-stammer-is-caused-by-erratic/)

[Gareth Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-gates/)

## More by Michael Bassey Johnson

> [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Anything you fear is a shackle to ur soul. It is a phobia that tethers and blinds ur ability to see and comprehend your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/anything-you-fear-is-a-shackle-to-ur-soul-it-is-a-phobia-that-tethers/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“The human eye is restricted to see the useen, because there’s a price to be paid to the rulers of this image and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/the-human-eye-is-restricted-to-see-the-useen-because-there-s-a-price/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“-We need more love, to supersede hatred, -We need more strength, to resist our weaknesses, -We need more inspiration, to lighten up our innermind.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/we-need-more-love-to-supersede-hatred-we-need-more-strength-to-resist/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Don't pretend to be what you're not, instead, pretend to what you want to be, it is not pretence, it is a journey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-pretend-to-be-what-you-re-not-instead-pretend-to-what-you-want/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“A lot can be done with courage, than with years wasted on the search for perfection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-lot-can-be-done-with-courage-than-with-years-wasted-on-the-search/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Any fool that had once helped you will someday make known to everyone that you were once a needy. No matter how broke you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/any-fool-that-had-once-helped-you-will-someday-make-known-to-everyone/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Sex doesn't satisfy for a lifetime, the more you have it, the more you want it. And the more you have it, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/sex-doesn-t-satisfy-for-a-lifetime-the-more-you-have-it-the-more-you/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“It is easy to criticize the antisocial, but hard to get close to know what keeps them at bay.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-easy-to-criticize-the-antisocial-but-hard-to-get-close-to-know/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“There's no difference between a madman and a professor...it should be clear to you in the way they dress, act and think.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/there-s-no-difference-between-a-madman-and-a-professor-it-should-be/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“People run away from the love game because they know they won't win the race.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/people-run-away-from-the-love-game-because-they-know-they-won-t-win/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“When you favour a woman, she will want to return the favour in so many means, but its better to rupidiate such offerings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-you-favour-a-woman-she-will-want-to-return-the-favour-in-so-many/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“When pain inspires you, your thoughts scream its lungs out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/when-pain-inspires-you-your-thoughts-scream-its-lungs-out/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Petrichor is the earth unearthing itself on a rainy day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/petrichor-is-the-earth-unearthing-itself-on-a-rainy-day/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

> [“Laugh now, and laugh hard. For laughter is the bell. And when it rings, it cleanses the air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/laugh-now-and-laugh-hard-for-laughter-is-the-bell-and-when-it-rings/)

[Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

[Explore all 703 Michael Bassey Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/)

## More Communicate quotes

> [Verbs allow you to communicate a story in a much more converged or involuntary way for a reader. The verbs allow you to come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/verbs-allow-you-to-communicate-a-story-in-a-much-more-converged-or/)

[Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/)

> [I have learned so much from my dad. Perhaps the biggest thing I've learned from my dad is how to be prepared at all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-sekulow/i-have-learned-so-much-from-my-dad-perhaps-the-biggest-thing-i-ve/)

[Jay Sekulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-sekulow/)

> [Even people who can't communicate can fall in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaejoong/even-people-who-can-t-communicate-can-fall-in-love/)

[Jaejoong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaejoong/)

> [Our communications reflect in our countenance. Therefore, we must be careful not only what we communicate, but also how we do so. Souls can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-lionel-kendrick/our-communications-reflect-in-our-countenance-therefore-we-must-be/)

[L. Lionel Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-lionel-kendrick/)

> [Always being on the move has strange consequences. I meet so many amazing people, for a night, or sometimes just a few days. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaspar-claus/always-being-on-the-move-has-strange-consequences-i-meet-so-many/)

[Gaspar Claus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaspar-claus/)

> [“Even without words, you communicate through touch, body language, and facial expression.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carmel-sheridan/even-without-words-you-communicate-through-touch-body-language-and/)

[Carmel Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carmel-sheridan/)

> [I could say that making clothes is my way of communicating, because I was always so shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-gaultier/i-could-say-that-making-clothes-is-my-way-of-communicating-because-i/)

[Jean Paul Gaultier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-gaultier/)

> [I think there's confusion around what the point of social networks is. A lot of different companies characterized as social networks have different goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/i-think-there-s-confusion-around-what-the-point-of-social-networks-is/)

[Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/)

> [Language just gradually came in, one or two stressed words a time. Before then, I would just scream. I couldn't talk. I couldn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/language-just-gradually-came-in-one-or-two-stressed-words-a-time/)

[Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/)

> [Had Elijah Muhammad tried to introduce an orthodox form of Arab-oriented Islam, I doubt if he would have attracted 500 people, but he introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henrik-clarke/had-elijah-muhammad-tried-to-introduce-an-orthodox-form-of-arab/)

[John Henrik Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henrik-clarke/)

> [Must whales and dolphins be subjected to deafening noise that will cause more than 3.5 million instances of temporary and/or permanent hearing loss? For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/must-whales-and-dolphins-be-subjected-to-deafening-noise-that-will/)

[Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/)

> [My wish for humanity is to invent a way to communicate between us and whatever comes next. And in the end that we the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sugata-mitra/my-wish-for-humanity-is-to-invent-a-way-to-communicate-between-us-and/)

[Sugata Mitra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sugata-mitra/)

> [Having people around you that are honest with you, and having a team around you that can actually track and communicate where things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muneshine/having-people-around-you-that-are-honest-with-you-and-having-a-team/)

[Muneshine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muneshine/)

> [The most important thing for a director is being able to communicate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/the-most-important-thing-for-a-director-is-being-able-to-communicate/)

[Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/)

> [Sourav's greatest asset is his ability to communicate. He is a naturally very confident person. He encourages his team, is a great motivator and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-shastri/sourav-s-greatest-asset-is-his-ability-to-communicate-he-is-a/)

[Ravi Shastri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-shastri/)

Browse all 2,325 Communicate quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“I may be deprived of eloquence, but my mind can never be a dumb.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Bassey Johnson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/i-may-be-deprived-of-eloquence-but-my-mind-can-never-be-a-dumb/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Communicate"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/i-may-be-deprived-of-eloquence-but-my-mind-can-never-be-a-dumb/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/michael-bassey-johnson-311_communicate_i-may-be-deprived-of-eloquence-but-my-mi_1305508.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/michael-bassey-johnson-311_communicate_i-may-be-deprived-of-eloquence-but-my-mi_1305508.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49b/michael-bassey-johnson-311_communicate_i-may-be-deprived-of-eloquence-but-my-mi_1305508.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I may be deprived of eloquence, but my mind can never be a dumb.” — Michael Bassey Johnson",
                "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": "Michael Bassey Johnson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“I may be deprived of eloquence,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/i-may-be-deprived-of-eloquence-but-my-mind-can-never-be-a-dumb/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/i-may-be-deprived-of-eloquence-but-my-mind-can-never-be-a-dumb/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
