--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When she told him about her cemetery…" description: "\"“When she told him about her cemetery walks, he gave a shiver of disgust and called cemeteries bone and stone dumps. A gulf of misunderstanding had imm..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/milan-kundera-120_misunderstanding_when-she-told-him-about-her-cemetery-wal_2966688.jpg" --- # When she told him about her cemetery walks, he gave a… ![“When she told him about her cemetery walks, he gave a shiver of disgust and called cemeteries bone and stone dumps. A gulf of misunderstanding had immediately opened up between them. Not until that day at the Montparnasse Cemetery did she see what he meant. She was sorry to have been so impatient…” quote by Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/milan-kundera-120_misunderstanding_when-she-told-him-about-her-cemetery-wal_2966688.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/milan-kundera-120_misunderstanding_when-she-told-him-about-her-cemetery-wal_2966688.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1b5/milan-kundera-120_misunderstanding_when-she-told-him-about-her-cemetery-wal_2966688.jpg) > ““When she told him about her cemetery walks, he gave a shiver of disgust and called cemeteries bone and stone dumps. A gulf of misunderstanding had immediately opened up between them. Not until that day at the Montparnasse Cemetery did she see what he meant. She was sorry to have been so impatient with him. Perhaps if they had stayed together longer, Sabina and Franz would have begun to understand the words they used. Gradually, timorously, their vocabularies would have come together, like bashful lovers, and the music of one would have begun to intersect with the music of the other. But it was too late now.”” [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A couple’s differing views on death reveal deeper communication gaps, showing how shared experiences can bridge misunderstanding. **In simple terms:** Different perspectives on death cause miscommunication; shared experiences can help. Key Takeaway Seek shared experiences to understand each other's language. Themes communication misunderstanding relationships death empathy Mood reflective somber Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - marriage counseling - grief support - artistic collaboration - cultural exchange Key Concepts existentialism psychology language Questions to Reflect On - How can shared experiences reshape our vocabulary? - What prevents us from listening deeply? A Different Perspective Understanding requires time and willingness; not all gaps can be closed instantly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Called Cemeteries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-cemeteries-3774645/) [Cemetery Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cemetery-did-4547166/) [Misunderstanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstanding/) [Montparnasse Cemetery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/montparnasse-cemetery-4547165/) [Told Cemetery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-cemetery-862075/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/) ## Related quotes > [They told me to take a streetcar named Desire and then transfer to one called Cemeteries and ride six blocks and get off at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tennessee-williams/they-told-me-to-take-a-streetcar-named-desire-and-then-transfer-to/) [Tennessee Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tennessee-williams/) > [R.I.P to my Ex...the funeral will be held at Never Again Baptist Church, located across from The Lies You Told Cemetery, on Moving TF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/r-i-p-to-my-ex-the-funeral-will-be-held-at-never-again-baptist-church/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [RIP to all my exs, the funeral will be held at Never Again Baptist Church located across from The Lies You've Told Cemetery on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiana-jwilson/rip-to-all-my-exs-the-funeral-will-be-held-at-never-again-baptist/) [Kiana JWilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiana-jwilson/) > [You always risk people misunderstanding you when you say anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lord/you-always-risk-people-misunderstanding-you-when-you-say-anything/) [Phil Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lord/) > [Acknowledged differences may create mutual respect, but hazy misunderstandings bring forth nothing but prejudice and rejection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/acknowledged-differences-may-create-mutual-respect-but-hazy/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I refer to the misunderstanding of Soviet Russia as an aggressive power, militaristically and ideologically bent upon world domination 'seeing', to quote a recent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-powell/i-refer-to-the-misunderstanding-of-soviet-russia-as-an-aggressive/) [Enoch Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch-powell/) > [I've been racking my brain. I've been trying to figure out how Bob Dole's luggage got on my airplane...I told the doctor, I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-ve-been-racking-my-brain-i-ve-been-trying-to-figure-out-how-bob/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I was born to love - but none of you wanted to believe it, and that misunderstanding was crucial in forming my character. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/i-was-born-to-love-but-none-of-you-wanted-to-believe-it-and-that/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [Kali yuga is so much saturated with vicious habits that there is a great fight at the slightest of misunderstanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/kali-yuga-is-so-much-saturated-with-vicious-habits-that-there-is-a/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [“When we are feeling low, we don’t even feel like taking bath. Although that is when we need bath the most. When misunderstanding is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunya/when-we-are-feeling-low-we-don-t-even-feel-like-taking-bath-although/) [Shunya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunya/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [To pray without expectation is to misunderstand the whole concept of prayer and relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/to-pray-without-expectation-is-to-misunderstand-the-whole-concept-of/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If readers understand that they do not understand what they are reading then they must possess an understanding which is superior to the meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-guthrie/if-readers-understand-that-they-do-not-understand-what-they-are/) [Arlo Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-guthrie/) > [“Don’t waste your time trying to explain yourself to people that are committed to misunderstanding you. Instead, commit your time to explaining who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/don-t-waste-your-time-trying-to-explain-yourself-to-people-that-are/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) ## More by Milan Kundera > [“The future is only an indifferent void no one cares about, but the past is filled with life, and its countenance is irritating, repellent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-future-is-only-an-indifferent-void-no-one-cares-about-but-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“From that time on they both looked forward to sleeping together. I might even say that the goal of their lovemaking was not so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/from-that-time-on-they-both-looked-forward-to-sleeping-together-i/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Beauty in the European sense has always had a premeditated quality to it. We've always had an aesthetic intention and a long-range plan. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/beauty-in-the-european-sense-has-always-had-a-premeditated-quality-to/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The beauty of New York is unintentional; it arose independent of human design, like a stalagmite cavern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-beauty-of-new-york-is-unintentional-it-arose-independent-of-human/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Children, Never look Back!" and this meant that we must never allow the future to be weighed down by memory . for children have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/children-never-look-back-and-this-meant-that-we-must-never-allow-the/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Our lives may be separate, but they run in the same direction, like parallel lines.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/our-lives-may-be-separate-but-they-run-in-the-same-direction-like/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Having a child is to show an absolute accord with mankind. If I have a child, it's as though I'm saying: I was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/having-a-child-is-to-show-an-absolute-accord-with-mankind-if-i-have-a/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [Love is a battle," said Marie-Claude, still smiling. "And I plan to go on fighting. To the end." Love is a battle?" said Franz.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/love-is-a-battle-said-marie-claude-still-smiling-and-i-plan-to-go-on/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“He remained annoyed with himself until he realized that not knowing what he wanted was actually quite natural. We can never know what to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/he-remained-annoyed-with-himself-until-he-realized-that-not-knowing/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Whenever I think about ancient cultures nostalgia seizes me. Perhaps this is nothing but envy of the sweet slowness of the history of that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/whenever-i-think-about-ancient-cultures-nostalgia-seizes-me-perhaps/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [When we ignore the body, we are more easily victimized by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/when-we-ignore-the-body-we-are-more-easily-victimized-by-it/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Do stories, apart from happening, being, have something to say? For all my skepticism, some trace of irrational superstition did survive in me, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/do-stories-apart-from-happening-being-have-something-to-say-for-all/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [“Os extremos delimitam a fronteira para além da qual a vida termina, e a paixão pelo extremismo, tanto em arte como em política, é…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/os-extremos-delimitam-a-fronteira-para-al-m-da-qual-a-vida-termina-e/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities. 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Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [If readers understand that they do not understand what they are reading then they must possess an understanding which is superior to the meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-guthrie/if-readers-understand-that-they-do-not-understand-what-they-are/) [Arlo Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-guthrie/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To pray without expectation is to misunderstand the whole concept of prayer and relationship with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/to-pray-without-expectation-is-to-misunderstand-the-whole-concept-of/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [The Fundamental Principle that governs - or ought to govern -human affairs if we wish to avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or pointless utopias, is negotiation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/the-fundamental-principle-that-governs-or-ought-to-govern-human/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [“When we are feeling low, we don’t even feel like taking bath. Although that is when we need bath the most. When misunderstanding is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunya/when-we-are-feeling-low-we-don-t-even-feel-like-taking-bath-although/) [Shunya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunya/) > [Kali yuga is so much saturated with vicious habits that there is a great fight at the slightest of misunderstanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/radhanath-swami/kali-yuga-is-so-much-saturated-with-vicious-habits-that-there-is-a/) [Radhanath Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/radhanath-swami/) > [I was born to love - but none of you wanted to believe it, and that misunderstanding was crucial in forming my character. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-sand/i-was-born-to-love-but-none-of-you-wanted-to-believe-it-and-that/) [George Sand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-sand/) > [I've been racking my brain. I've been trying to figure out how Bob Dole's luggage got on my airplane...I told the doctor, I said,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-ve-been-racking-my-brain-i-ve-been-trying-to-figure-out-how-bob/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I refer to the misunderstanding of Soviet Russia as an aggressive power, militaristically and ideologically bent upon world domination 'seeing', to quote a recent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enoch-powell/i-refer-to-the-misunderstanding-of-soviet-russia-as-an-aggressive/) [Enoch Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enoch-powell/) > [Acknowledged differences may create mutual respect, but hazy misunderstandings bring forth nothing but prejudice and rejection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/acknowledged-differences-may-create-mutual-respect-but-hazy/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [You always risk people misunderstanding you when you say anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-lord/you-always-risk-people-misunderstanding-you-when-you-say-anything/) [Phil Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-lord/) > [There is quite a lot of mutual misunderstanding between the upper middle class and the working class. 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Grammar protects us against misunderstanding the sound of an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugen-rosenstock-huessy/grammar-and-logic-free-language-from-being-at-the-mercy-of-the-tone/) [Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugen-rosenstock-huessy/) [Browse all 625 Misunderstanding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misunderstanding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When she told him about her cemetery walks, he gave a shiver of disgust and called cemeteries bone and stone dumps. A gulf of misunderstanding had immediately opened up between them. Not until that day at the Montparnasse Cemetery did she see what he meant. She was sorry to have been so impatient with him. Perhaps if they had stayed together longer, Sabina and Franz would have begun to understand the words they used. 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