Henri Nouwen Quotes

Silence may be as variously shaded as speech.

Under all speech that is good for anything there lies a silence that is better, Silence is deep as Eternity; speech is shallow as Time.

You say it best, when you say nothing at all.

Nothing in all creation is so like God as stillness.

Silence is an ocean. Speech is a river.

I am interested in silences

True silence is really endless speech.

Why must one talk? Often one shouldn't talk, but live in silence. The more one talks, the less the words mean. (Nana Kleinfrankenheim, Vivre Sa Vie)

Go to where the silence is and say something.

Her silence was worth more to her than a thousand words.In that silence,she had peace and clarity.Except during the night,when her own jumbled thoughts would keep her awake.

Silence is of different kinds, and breathes different meanings.

Perhaps it is possible to discover more in silence than in speech. Or perhaps it is only that those who are silent among us learn to listen.

Silence is never-ending speech. Vocal speech obstructs the other speech of silence. In silence one is in intimate contact with the surroundings. Language is only a medium for communicating one's thoughts to another. Silence is ever speaking.

The long silences need to be loved, perhaps more than the words which arrive to describe them in time.

Words are the part of silence that can be spoken.

It's a difficult competition against silence, because silence is a perfect language, the only language which says with no words.

With Jackson there was quiet solitude. Just to sit and look at the landscape. An inner quietness. After dinner, to sit on the back porch and look at the light. No need for talking. For any kind of communication.

A story is told as much by silence as by speech.

When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.

Speech is the small change of silence.

It's not that I don't like words. There's sometimes no need for words.

Words are powerful. When I make mistakes I just try to come back and clarify what I meant.

The most profound statements are often said in silence.

He who does not understand your silence will probably not understand your words.

Silence is worth a thousand pieces of silver.