--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once I was condemned to three months'…" description: "\"Once I was condemned to three months' absolute silence. As I could not speak, I wrote a book.\" — Nana Mouskouri" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/nana-mouskouri-19960_book_once-i-was-condemned-to-three-months-abs_1226314.jpg" --- # Once I was condemned to three months' absolute silence. As… ![“Once I was condemned to three months' absolute silence. As I could not speak, I wrote a book.” quote by Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/nana-mouskouri-19960_book_once-i-was-condemned-to-three-months-abs_1226314.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/nana-mouskouri-19960_book_once-i-was-condemned-to-three-months-abs_1226314.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/nana-mouskouri-19960_book_once-i-was-condemned-to-three-months-abs_1226314.jpg) > “Once I was condemned to three months' absolute silence. As I could not speak, I wrote a book.” [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Silence forced her to express herself through writing, turning a limitation into a creative outlet. **In simple terms:** She turned forced silence into writing. Key Takeaway Embrace constraints as creative catalysts. Themes creativity resilience expression Mood reflective inspirational Type personal growth creative When to use this quote - writing a book - journaling - overcoming communication barriers Key Concepts adaptation artistic transformation Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn a personal limitation into a strength? - What creative outlets suit you when speech is restricted? A Different Perspective Silence may not always inspire productivity; some may feel stifled. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ## Related quotes > [“Who gets to speak and why?, I wrote last week, is the only question.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kraus/who-gets-to-speak-and-why-i-wrote-last-week-is-the-only-question/) [Chris Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kraus/) > [“She was extending a hand that I didn't know how to take, so I broke its fingers with my silence, she said, "You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/she-was-extending-a-hand-that-i-didn-t-know-how-to-take-so-i-broke-2/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [The law of silence: Speak little. Say only what you must. Speak only when necessary. Your oratory should be deeds, not words. You accomplish:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/the-law-of-silence-speak-little-say-only-what-you-must-speak-only/) [Corneliu Zelea Codreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corneliu-zelea-codreanu/) > [It is very hard to live with silence. The real silence is death and this is terrible. To approach this silence, it is necessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmond-jab-s/it-is-very-hard-to-live-with-silence-the-real-silence-is-death-and/) [Edmond Jabes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmond-jab-s/) > [“Absolute silence might well be, in some instances, our greatest act of worship. Tozer referred to our experiencing a “breathless silence” when we know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-eastman/absolute-silence-might-well-be-in-some-instances-our-greatest-act-of/) Dick Eastman > [“Keegan had never realized how absolute silence could be in the minutes before dawn. Maybe because the expectation of battle filled the air, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-crane/keegan-had-never-realized-how-absolute-silence-could-be-in-the/) [Julia Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-crane/) > [Absolute silence leads to sadness. It is the image of death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/absolute-silence-leads-to-sadness-it-is-the-image-of-death/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The sole philosophy open to those who doubt the possibility of truth is absolute silence -- even mental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-maritain/the-sole-philosophy-open-to-those-who-doubt-the-possibility-of-truth/) [Jacques Maritain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-maritain/) > [At home, I love reaching out into that absolute silence, when you can hear the owl or the wind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-harlech/at-home-i-love-reaching-out-into-that-absolute-silence-when-you-can/) [Amanda Harlech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-harlech/) > [“Verbal vomit is the evil twin of absolute silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-gornall/verbal-vomit-is-the-evil-twin-of-absolute-silence/) [Louise Gornall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-gornall/) > [Since nothing is absolute, there is no absolute silence, only an appearance of temporary peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dejan-stojanovic/since-nothing-is-absolute-there-is-no-absolute-silence-only-an/) [Dejan Stojanovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dejan-stojanovic/) > [To speak for others is to first silence those in whose name we speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-callon/to-speak-for-others-is-to-first-silence-those-in-whose-name-we-speak/) Michel Callon > [Sometimes it's best to stay quiet. Except the silence can speak volumes without ever saying a word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/sometimes-it-s-best-to-stay-quiet-except-the-silence-can-speak/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [If you cannot improve upon the silence, do not speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-rose/if-you-cannot-improve-upon-the-silence-do-not-speak/) [Chris Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-rose/) > [“Silence will speak If given an ear; Stillness is the movement Of our atmosphere; Circles have sides When we draw the line; Death is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alaina-odessa/silence-will-speak-if-given-an-ear-stillness-is-the-movement-of-our/) [Alaina Odessa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alaina-odessa/) ## More by Nana Mouskouri > [Every time I would open my mouth to sing, everybody was paying attention to me. It became a habit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/every-time-i-would-open-my-mouth-to-sing-everybody-was-paying/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [I left the table where there were important people and had lunch with my husband and a few friends. The reception was organised in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/i-left-the-table-where-there-were-important-people-and-had-lunch-with/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [When I was singing, everybody liked me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/when-i-was-singing-everybody-liked-me/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [When I heard his first songs, Dylan was answering certain questions that I had all my life been asking myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/when-i-heard-his-first-songs-dylan-was-answering-certain-questions/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [How you looked was not important. It was what you did and how you did it. Decide to do it and then do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/how-you-looked-was-not-important-it-was-what-you-did-and-how-you-did/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [I have been so lucky to receive so much love from those who enjoy my music, that I feel I have to give as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/i-have-been-so-lucky-to-receive-so-much-love-from-those-who-enjoy-my/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [I thought it was respectful to each country to sing in their language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/i-thought-it-was-respectful-to-each-country-to-sing-in-their-language/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [I always try to see things with children's eyes. Are they happy? Sad? What do they need? Everywhere I went, I realized that children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/i-always-try-to-see-things-with-children-s-eyes-are-they-happy-sad/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [My energy to sing, I get it from my singing. Singing was not a reason to make a living. This is the only thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/my-energy-to-sing-i-get-it-from-my-singing-singing-was-not-a-reason/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [I was born a singer. I need to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/i-was-born-a-singer-i-need-to-do-that/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [I like to cook, but mostly Greek. When I am confused or tired, I think about what I can cook. It takes you away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/i-like-to-cook-but-mostly-greek-when-i-am-confused-or-tired-i-think/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [It's nice to look good, but the most important thing is to be you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/it-s-nice-to-look-good-but-the-most-important-thing-is-to-be-you/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [There were wonderful moments when I was singing for the first time in the Olympia Theatre and I was pregnant with my son, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/there-were-wonderful-moments-when-i-was-singing-for-the-first-time-in/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [One of the most wonderful memories in my life was when I sang at the Opera House in Sydney. I will never forget that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/one-of-the-most-wonderful-memories-in-my-life-was-when-i-sang-at-the/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) > [With my songs I tried to prove that there is love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/with-my-songs-i-tried-to-prove-that-there-is-love/) [Nana Mouskouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) [Explore all 31 Nana Mouskouri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/) ## More Book quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I don't think I have made as much of my life as I should have. I should have written more books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/i-don-t-think-i-have-made-as-much-of-my-life-as-i-should-have-i/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [“People talk about books that write themselves, and it's a lie. Books don't write themselves. It takes thought and research and a backache and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/people-talk-about-books-that-write-themselves-and-it-s-a-lie-books/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [There are great books in this world and great worlds in books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/there-are-great-books-in-this-world-and-great-worlds-in-books/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [The purpose of this book is to supply, in the form suitable for laymen, guidance in the adoption and execution of an investment policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-graham/the-purpose-of-this-book-is-to-supply-in-the-form-suitable-for-laymen/) [Benjamin Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-graham/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But I’ve developed a great reputation for wisdom by ordering more books than I ever had time to read, and reading more books, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilynne-robinson/but-i-ve-developed-a-great-reputation-for-wisdom-by-ordering-more/) [Marilynne Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilynne-robinson/) [Browse all 29,378 Book quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Once I was condemned to three months' absolute silence. As I could not speak, I wrote a book.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nana Mouskouri" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/once-i-was-condemned-to-three-months-absolute-silence-as-i-could-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Book" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/once-i-was-condemned-to-three-months-absolute-silence-as-i-could-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/nana-mouskouri-19960_book_once-i-was-condemned-to-three-months-abs_1226314.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/nana-mouskouri-19960_book_once-i-was-condemned-to-three-months-abs_1226314.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98e/nana-mouskouri-19960_book_once-i-was-condemned-to-three-months-abs_1226314.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Once I was condemned to three months' absolute silence. As I could not speak, I wrote a book.” — Nana Mouskouri", "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": "Nana Mouskouri", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-mouskouri/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Once I was condemned to three...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/once-i-was-condemned-to-three-months-absolute-silence-as-i-could-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-mouskouri/once-i-was-condemned-to-three-months-absolute-silence-as-i-could-not/#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 } } ] } ```