--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: APOSIOPESIS (APOSIOPE'SIS) n.s.[ from…" description: "\"“APOSIOPESIS (APOSIOPE'SIS) n.s.[ from after, and rixp to be silent.] A form of speech, by which the speaker, through some affection, as sorro..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/samuel-johnson-50_communication_aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after_555897.png" --- # APOSIOPESIS (APOSIOPE'SIS) n.s.\[ from after, and rixp to… ![“APOSIOPESIS (APOSIOPE'SIS) n.s.[ from after, and rixp to be silent.] A form of speech, by which the speaker, through some affection, as sorrow, bashfulness, fear, anger, or vehemency, breaks off his speech before it be all ended. A figure, when, speaking of a thing, we yet seem to conceal it…” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/samuel-johnson-50_communication_aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after_555897.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/samuel-johnson-50_communication_aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after_555897.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/samuel-johnson-50_communication_aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after_555897.png) > ““APOSIOPESIS  (APOSIOPE'SIS)   n.s.\[   from    after, and rixp  to be silent.\] A form of speech, by which the speaker, through some affection, as sorrow, bashfulness, fear, anger, or vehemency, breaks off his speech before it be all ended. A figure, when, speaking of a thing, we yet seem to conceal it, though indeed we aggravate it; or when the course of the sentence begun is so stayed, as thereby some part of the sentence not being uttered, may be understood; as, I might say much more, but modesty commands silence.Smith’sRhetorick.”” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A rhetorical device where a speaker intentionally stops, suggesting deeper meaning or restraint. **In simple terms:** Deliberate silence can convey more than words. Key Takeaway Use pauses to emphasize points. Themes communication silence moderation subtlety Mood thoughtful analytical educational Type philosophical instructive When to use this quote - public speaking - writing - debate - interpersonal dialogue Key Concepts rhetorical pause strategic omission emotional restraint Questions to Reflect On - When is silence more powerful than speech? - How can you convey meaning without words? A Different Perspective Risk of misinterpretation if context is unclear. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Fear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fear/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) ## Related quotes > [“In fiction, especially in texts that are framed by a storytelling situation, aporia is a favourite device of narrators to arouse curiosity in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lodge/in-fiction-especially-in-texts-that-are-framed-by-a-storytelling/) [David Lodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lodge/) > [“I think about his advice. Don’t use magic the way they expect you to. Surprising them is half the battle, blah, blah, blah. Yeah,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cece-rose/i-think-about-his-advice-don-t-use-magic-the-way-they-expect-you-to/) [Cece Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cece-rose/) > [Abuse is often of service. 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A figure, when, speaking of a thing, we yet seem to conceal it, though indeed we aggravate it; or when the course of the sentence begun is so stayed, as thereby some part of the sentence not being uttered, may be understood; as, I might say much more, but modesty commands silence.Smith’sRhetorick.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Samuel Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after-and-rixp-to-be-silent-a-form/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after-and-rixp-to-be-silent-a-form/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/samuel-johnson-50_communication_aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after_555897.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/samuel-johnson-50_communication_aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after_555897.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afb/samuel-johnson-50_communication_aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after_555897.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“APOSIOPESIS (APOSIOPE'SIS) n.s.[ from after, and rixp to be silent.] A form of speech, by which the speaker…” — Samuel Johnson", "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": "Samuel Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“APOSIOPESIS  (APOSIOPE'SIS)   n.s.[   from    after, and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after-and-rixp-to-be-silent-a-form/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/aposiopesis-aposiope-sis-n-s-from-after-and-rixp-to-be-silent-a-form/#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 } } ] } ```