--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When the eyes say one thing, and the…" description: "\"“When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practical man relies on the language of the first.”\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_333370.png" --- # When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a… ![“When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practical man relies on the language of the first.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_333370.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_333370.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_333370.png) > ““When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practical man relies on the language of the first.”” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The eyes convey inner truth, while words may contradict; a practical person trusts instinct over speech. **In simple terms:** Trust inner truth, not just words. Key Takeaway Listen to your intuition. Themes trust communication practicality Mood thoughtful reflective Type aphilosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal decision making - conflict resolution - leadership - negotiation Key Concepts intuition authenticity nonverbal cues Questions to Reflect On - Do you rely more on gut feelings or spoken promises? - How can you verify sincerity beyond words? A Different Perspective Nonverbal cues can be misread, leading to misunderstanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-language/) [Eyes Say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes-say-297175/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Man Relies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-relies-3114849/) [Practical Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practical-man-542940/) [Relies Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relies-language-3114848/) [Tongue Practical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue-practical-3114847/) ## Related quotes > [When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practiced man relies on the language of the first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tongue-another-a-practiced-man/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [There's strength in numbers. But there's weakness in a man who relies on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-strength-in-numbers-but-there-s-weakness-in-a-man-who-relies/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A man who relies upon himself wins a sort of glorious independence. For he has not to wait to be helped by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/self-reliance/a-man-who-relies-upon-himself-wins-a-sort-of-glorious-independence/) [Self-reliance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/self-reliance/) > [The world belongs to who doesn't feel. The primary condition to be a practical man is the absence of sensitivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-pessoa/the-world-belongs-to-who-doesn-t-feel-the-primary-condition-to-be-a/) [Fernando Pessoa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-pessoa/) > [The practical man is the adventurer, the investigator, the believer in research, the asker of questions, the man who refuses to believe that perfection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-harrower/the-practical-man-is-the-adventurer-the-investigator-the-believer-in/) [Henry Harrower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-harrower/) > [The more I move among workers and factories and other plants, the stronger I become convinced that it is advisable to have as \[a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/the-more-i-move-among-workers-and-factories-and-other-plants-the/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [I came here as a practical man, to talk, not simply on the question of peace and war, but to treat another question which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/i-came-here-as-a-practical-man-to-talk-not-simply-on-the-question-of/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [“Here there is no doubt that timidity and a total lack of personal initiative have always been regarded among us as the chiefest and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/here-there-is-no-doubt-that-timidity-and-a-total-lack-of-personal/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Hopefully, Donald Trump's a very practical man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/hopefully-donald-trump-s-a-very-practical-man/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [In practice, such trifles as contradictions in principle are easily set aside; the faculty of ignoring them makes the practical man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/in-practice-such-trifles-as-contradictions-in-principle-are-easily/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [“I'm afraid I'm a practical man,' said the doctor with gruff humour, 'and I don't bother much about religion and philosophy.' 'You'll never be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-chesterton/i-m-afraid-i-m-a-practical-man-said-the-doctor-with-gruff-humour-and/) [G.K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-chesterton/) > [A practical man is a man who practices the errors of his forefathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/a-practical-man-is-a-man-who-practices-the-errors-of-his-forefathers/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [I am a plain practical man, not one of your theorists and splitters of hairs and choppers of logic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-g-frazer/i-am-a-plain-practical-man-not-one-of-your-theorists-and-splitters-of/) [James G. Frazer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-g-frazer/) > [It must be for truth's sake, and not for the sake of its usefulness to humanity, that the scientific man studies Nature. The application…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-agassiz/it-must-be-for-truth-s-sake-and-not-for-the-sake-of-its-usefulness-to/) [Louis Agassiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-agassiz/) > [“One nation, under God, with consciousness – the practical man serves the highest abstraction with juggling training.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bauvard/one-nation-under-god-with-consciousness-the-practical-man-serves-the/) [Bauvard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bauvard/) ## More by Ralph Waldo Emerson > [The history of mankind interests us only as it exhibits a steady gain of truth and right, in the incessant conflict which it records…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-history-of-mankind-interests-us-only-as-it-exhibits-a-steady-gain/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If we will not interfere with our thought, but will act entirely, or see how the thing stands in God, we know the particular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-we-will-not-interfere-with-our-thought-but-will-act-entirely-or/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [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/) > [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“There is then creative reading as well as creative writing. When the mind is braced by labor and invention, the page of whatever book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-then-creative-reading-as-well-as-creative-writing-when-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The order of things consents to virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-order-of-things-consents-to-virtue/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Life only avails, not the having lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/life-only-avails-not-the-having-lived/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [A child reminds us that playtime is an essential part of our daily routine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-child-reminds-us-that-playtime-is-an-essential-part-of-our-daily/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [No man can be criticised but by a greater than he. Do not, then, read the reviews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/no-man-can-be-criticised-but-by-a-greater-than-he-do-not-then-read/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I am; therefore, I had nothing better to do than to think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/i-am-therefore-i-had-nothing-better-to-do-than-to-think/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/in-a-library-we-are-surrounded-by-many-hundreds-of-dear-friends-but/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The compensations of calamity are made apparent to the understanding also, after long intervals of time. A fever, a mutilation, a cruel disappointment, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-compensations-of-calamity-are-made-apparent-to-the-understanding/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) [Explore all 4,802 Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More Body language quotes > [Maybe there's some kind of modeling that can be tedious, like catalogue modeling, but there's a kind of modeling, with runways or working with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/maybe-there-s-some-kind-of-modeling-that-can-be-tedious-like/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [Body language as a non verbal communication is very essential in any relationship, being completely oblivion of body language reduces chances of lasting relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/body-language-as-a-non-verbal-communication-is-very-essential-in-any/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) > [The earliest language was body language and, since this language is the language of questions, if we limit the questions, and if we only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-freire/the-earliest-language-was-body-language-and-since-this-language-is/) [Paulo Freire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-freire/) > [“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/) > [Your body language shapes who you are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-cuddy/your-body-language-shapes-who-you-are/) [Amy Cuddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-cuddy/) > [Whatever questions I ask, will you give me an honest answer? Do you love me? why do you blush look away and say no?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/whatever-questions-i-ask-will-you-give-me-an-honest-answer-do-you/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“5 Tips for Mirroring Others 1. Body language. When they smile, you smile. When they lean back in their chair, you lean back in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/5-tips-for-mirroring-others-1-body-language-when-they-smile-you-smile/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [When you play somebody, you pick up a lot of their gestures, his voice, the way he speaks, his body language. You don't often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-loggia/when-you-play-somebody-you-pick-up-a-lot-of-their-gestures-his-voice/) [Robert Loggia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-loggia/) > [Part of the reason why I love to operate is because I find that so much of what we do is instinctual. It's dancing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-morrison/part-of-the-reason-why-i-love-to-operate-is-because-i-find-that-so/) [Rachel Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-morrison/) > [Coming to appreciate your worth can, in some cases, dramatically improve your circumstances by changing the choices you make and the actions you take.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-millman/coming-to-appreciate-your-worth-can-in-some-cases-dramatically/) [Dan Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-millman/) > [“A smile is one of the most powerful and important body language cues we share with others—and as such a heartfelt emotion, it's impossible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/a-smile-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-and-important-body-language-cues/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [“A blanket could be used to say I’m sorry without using words, gestures, body language, facial expressions, or telepathy. I’ve always thought it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-to-say-i-m-sorry-without-using-words-gestures/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I am an emotional and fragile person. I observe life, I am perceptive and can read a person's body language. I have a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madhur-bhandarkar/i-am-an-emotional-and-fragile-person-i-observe-life-i-am-perceptive/) [Madhur Bhandarkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madhur-bhandarkar/) > [In writing, punctuation plays the role of body language. It helps readers hear you the way you want to be heard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-baker/in-writing-punctuation-plays-the-role-of-body-language-it-helps/) [Russell Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-baker/) > [“Unapokutana na mtu, kisha mtu huyo haoneshi dalili yoyote ya kutaka kusalimiwa; je, anataka umsalimie au usimsalimie? Ndugu yangu, onesha lugha ya mwili kuonesha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/unapokutana-na-mtu-kisha-mtu-huyo-haoneshi-dalili-yoyote-ya-kutaka/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) [Browse all 383 Body language quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-language/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practical man relies on the language of the first.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ralph Waldo Emerson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tongue-another-a-practical-man/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Body language" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tongue-another-a-practical-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_333370.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_333370.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d8/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_333370.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practical man relies on the language of the first.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson", "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": "Ralph Waldo Emerson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“When the eyes say one thing,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tongue-another-a-practical-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tongue-another-a-practical-man/#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 } } ] } ```