--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Silence is a universal language. It's…" description: "\"Silence is a universal language. It's like music or painting.\" — Michel Hazanavicius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/michel-hazanavicius-7804_language_silence-is-a-universal-language-it-s-lik_92813.png" --- # Silence is a universal language. It's like music or… ![“Silence is a universal language. It's like music or painting.” quote by Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/michel-hazanavicius-7804_language_silence-is-a-universal-language-it-s-lik_92813.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/michel-hazanavicius-7804_language_silence-is-a-universal-language-it-s-lik_92813.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4b3/michel-hazanavicius-7804_language_silence-is-a-universal-language-it-s-lik_92813.png) > “Silence is a universal language. It's like music or painting.” [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Non‑verbal expression—silence—communicates across cultures like music or visual art, transcending language barriers. **In simple terms:** Silence speaks universally, like art. Key Takeaway Silence can convey meaning across cultures. Themes communication universality art non‑verbal Mood contemplative serene Type aphorism observation When to use this quote - cross‑cultural diplomacy - mediation in conflict Key Concepts symbolic language cultural resonance Practical Applications - use silence to de‑escalate tense conversations Questions to Reflect On - How can silence be more powerful than words? - When might silence be misinterpreted? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Universal language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universal-language/) ## Related quotes > [Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/silence-is-the-universal-refuge-the-sequel-to-all-dull-discourses-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Color is a language, like music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vlady-kibalchich-russakov/color-is-a-language-like-music/) Vlady Kibalchich Russakov > [Silence is the universal refuge, the sequel to all dull discourses and all foolish acts, a balm to our every chagrin, as welcome after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/silence-is-the-universal-refuge-the-sequel-to-all-dull-discourses-and-2/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Dancing, singing, storytelling and silence are the four universal healing salves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-roth/dancing-singing-storytelling-and-silence-are-the-four-universal/) [Gabrielle Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-roth/) > [Comics, in a sense, the style, the images - it's almost like music. They say music is a universal language, but when the eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/comics-in-a-sense-the-style-the-images-it-s-almost-like-music-they/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [I always feel like music should be a universal language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-fiona/i-always-feel-like-music-should-be-a-universal-language/) [Melanie Fiona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-fiona/) > [I think if you work with different kinds of codes, attitudes, in the end you have a language. It's like within a person. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alessandro-michele/i-think-if-you-work-with-different-kinds-of-codes-attitudes-in-the/) [Alessandro Michele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alessandro-michele/) > [Accents aren't accents, they're language It's almost like a code. Because that's the key to who you are: it's how you express who you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rege-jean-page/accents-aren-t-accents-they-re-language-it-s-almost-like-a-code/) [Rege-Jean Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rege-jean-page/) > [I learned to use language like my mother did. I would simulcast, give you the program in your own tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-noah/i-learned-to-use-language-like-my-mother-did-i-would-simulcast-give/) [Trevor Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-noah/) > [We live in our language like blind men walking on the edge of an abyss. This language is laden with future catastrophes. The day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gershom-scholem/we-live-in-our-language-like-blind-men-walking-on-the-edge-of-an/) Gershom Scholem > [Language is like soil. However rich, it is subject to erosion, and its fertility is constantly threatened by uses that exhaust itsvitality. It needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-drew/language-is-like-soil-however-rich-it-is-subject-to-erosion-and-its/) [Elizabeth Drew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-drew/) > [“Language is like looking at a map of somewhere. Love is living there and surviving on the land. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-van-booy/language-is-like-looking-at-a-map-of-somewhere-love-is-living-there/) [Simon Van Booy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-van-booy/) > [“She said being inside a language was like being in a person's house - after a while you came to see why the teapot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-frazier/she-said-being-inside-a-language-was-like-being-in-a-person-s-house/) [Ian Frazier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-frazier/) > [Language is like money, without which specific relative values may well exist and be felt, but cannot be reduced to a common denominator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santayana/language-is-like-money-without-which-specific-relative-values-may/) [George Santayana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santayana/) > [I think I've got an Irish sensibility for language - I like how people talk. I'm not saying I've got it, but I'm obsessed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roisin-conaty/i-think-i-ve-got-an-irish-sensibility-for-language-i-like-how-people/) [Roisin Conaty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roisin-conaty/) ## More by Michel Hazanavicius > [I am unusual for a Frenchman - I have absolutely nothing against the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/i-am-unusual-for-a-frenchman-i-have-absolutely-nothing-against-the/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [Usually, when you do a period movie, you just recreate what you are shooting. You don't recreate the way you shoot it. I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/usually-when-you-do-a-period-movie-you-just-recreate-what-you-are/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [In France, it's really different the way you live. It's a non-religious country. The public space is not religious; religion is a private thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/in-france-it-s-really-different-the-way-you-live-it-s-a-non-religious/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I make almost all the decisions on set and have to deal with all the financial aspects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/i-make-almost-all-the-decisions-on-set-and-have-to-deal-with-all-the/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [The fact that I made a special movie with an old-fashioned style - even if it's a mix between with modern and old-fashioned things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/the-fact-that-i-made-a-special-movie-with-an-old-fashioned-style-even/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I strongly believe cinema is popular culture. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. That's life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/i-strongly-believe-cinema-is-popular-culture-sometimes-it-works/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [Even if I make fun of him, I try to portray him as a human being. Sometimes because he's the great Jean-Luc Godard, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/even-if-i-make-fun-of-him-i-try-to-portray-him-as-a-human-being/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [It's not my job. The Weinstein company, it's their job to convince people. My job was to make the movie. That's what I did.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/it-s-not-my-job-the-weinstein-company-it-s-their-job-to-convince/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I always try to make popular films. Even in black-and-white and silent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/i-always-try-to-make-popular-films-even-in-black-and-white-and-silent/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [An idea is something you work on to make it work and a desire is much deeper in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/an-idea-is-something-you-work-on-to-make-it-work-and-a-desire-is-much/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [The Germans were much more graphical. The expressionism is much more than cinema. It was a movement with artists, painters, music and architecture, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/the-germans-were-much-more-graphical-the-expressionism-is-much-more/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I think there's something in common with the OSS 117 movies. The big difference is there's no irony in this one. It's not parody.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/i-think-there-s-something-in-common-with-the-oss-117-movies-the-big/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [With silent films, you're better off avoiding irony, because the spectator is your accomplice. It's this pact that leads to emotion being created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/with-silent-films-you-re-better-off-avoiding-irony-because-the/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [I only have one obsession - not to be boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/i-only-have-one-obsession-not-to-be-boring/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) > [But I don't think of myself as a foreigner or a Frenchman! I just think of myself as a director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-hazanavicius/but-i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-foreigner-or-a-frenchman-i-just/) [Michel Hazanavicius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) [Explore all 87 Michel Hazanavicius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-hazanavicius/) ## More Language quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) TimBur > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The words for what I want to say right now don't exist. Everything sounds…so cliché.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/the-words-for-what-i-want-to-say-right-now-don-t-exist-everything/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Words can kill you trust towards someone, mind you language people, every reaction had its consequence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-can-kill-you-trust-towards-someone-mind-you-language-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Finxerunt animi, raro et perpauca loquentis. (To action little, less to words inclinded.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/finxerunt-animi-raro-et-perpauca-loquentis-to-action-little-less-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) [Browse all 21,951 Language quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Silence is a universal language. 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