--- 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 practiced man relies on the language of the first.\" — Ralph Waldo Emerson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_489365.png" --- # When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a… ![“When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practiced man relies on the language of the first.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_489365.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_489365.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_489365.png) > “When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practiced 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. When words conflict, a wise person trusts the deeper, non‑verbal truth expressed by the eyes. **In simple terms:** Trust the unspoken truth. Key Takeaway Listen to non‑verbal cues. Themes communication integrity intuition Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - interpersonal conflict - leadership - negotiation - relationship building Key Concepts philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - When should I prioritize spoken words over body language? - How can I balance intuition with reason? A Different Perspective Over‑reliance on intuition may ignore rational evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body-language/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Language and communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language-and-communication/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nonverbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonverbal/) [Verbal communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verbal-communication/) ## Related quotes > [“When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practical 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-practical-man/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [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/) > [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/) > [Sexuality is primarily a means of communicating with other people, a way of talking to them, of expressing our feelings about ourselves and them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-solomon/sexuality-is-primarily-a-means-of-communicating-with-other-people-a/) [Robert C. Solomon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-c-solomon/) > [When you're onstage, it's a communication technique when you make people laugh. You're communicating. You're communicating with other human beings and when they laugh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/when-you-re-onstage-it-s-a-communication-technique-when-you-make/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [Dr. Rosenberg has brought the simplicity of successful communication into the foreground. No matter what issue you're facing, his strategies for communicating with others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/dr-rosenberg-has-brought-the-simplicity-of-successful-communication/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Micromessaging -- communicating with other human beings through visual, audible, sublingual means, no doubt predates our ability to speak. We actually read micromessages quite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-young/micromessaging-communicating-with-other-human-beings-through-visual/) [Stephen Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-young/) > [ \[While\] my life started taking on all the problems of addiction. So that took me off into an area where relationships were absolutely impossible… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/while-my-life-started-taking-on-all-the-problems-of-addiction-so-that/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [The individual's whole experience is built upon the plan of his language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-delacroix/the-individual-s-whole-experience-is-built-upon-the-plan-of-his/) Henri Delacroix > [Human suffering is articulated in language; communication is how we seek help, consolation, etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberto-gonzalez/human-suffering-is-articulated-in-language-communication-is-how-we/) [Rigoberto Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberto-gonzalez/) > [Dance is the hidden langauge of the soul, of the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-graham/dance-is-the-hidden-langauge-of-the-soul-of-the-body/) [Martha Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-graham/) > [All that has been integrated into NVC has been known for centuries about consciousness, language, communication skills, and use of power that enable us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/all-that-has-been-integrated-into-nvc-has-been-known-for-centuries/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Language can be a way of hiding your thoughts and preventing communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/language-can-be-a-way-of-hiding-your-thoughts-and-preventing/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Teacher, school administrators and parents will come away from Life-Enriching Education with skills in language, communication, and ways of structuring the learning environment that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/teacher-school-administrators-and-parents-will-come-away-from-life/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Two monologues do not make a dialogue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-daly/two-monologues-do-not-make-a-dialogue/) Jeff Daly ## 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 practiced 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-practiced-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-practiced-man/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_489365.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_489365.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26f/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_body-language_when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tong_489365.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practiced 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-practiced-man/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tongue-another-a-practiced-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 } } ] } ```