Quotes About Reticence

la esencia de la coqueta no radica en el señuelo y la tentación, sino en la posterior marcha atrás, la reticencia emocional. Ésta es la clave del deseo esclavizador.

There is a probably natural and learned reticence with myself talking about my early life.

I'm a very private person, and perhaps this can be mistaken for aloofness.

I always, by an involuntary act of defensiveness, return to my everyday self: so, I find, have I withdrawn from writing about experiences which have most closely concerned and disturbed me. I have been deflected by my own reticence.

I felt better being in the background. That's the way I like it.

Tell me about yourself." And she gave the answer that Adam must have given. "There's nothing to tell." But

She was a dark, unenduring little flower - yet he thought he detected in her some quality of spiritual reticence, of strength drawn from her passive acceptance of all things. In this he was mistaken.

She was a dark, unenduring little flower - yet he thought he detected in her some quality of spiritual reticence, of strength drawn from her passive acceptance of all things. In this he was mistaken.

But Italy worked some marvel in her. It gave her light, and – which he held more precious – it gave her shadow. Soon he detected in her a wonderful reticence. She was like a woman of Leonardo da Vinci's, whom we love not so much for herself as for the things that she will not tell us. The things are assuredly not of this life; no woman of Leonardo's could have anything so vulgar as a "story." She did develop most wonderfully day by day.

If her aunt could not see why she must go down, she was not going to tell her. She was not going to say, "I love my dear sister; I must be near her at this crisis of her life." The affections are more reticent than the passions, and their expression more subtle. If she herself should ever fall in love with a man, she, like Helen, would proclaim it from the housetops, but as she loved only a sister she used the voiceless language of sympathy.

All my life I've been hiding.

It's a good feeling to not tell people what's going on.

All this, combined with typical British reticence to discuss their relationship and its problems, led them to behave in such a repressed way to each other that everyone else around them knew immediately they were in love.

I was just so blatantly shy throughout my life.

Reticence was clearly a national characteristic, even if the other person spoke French.

I was often, later on, to act out with Giaconda a circumspection I did not feel: her abundance made others reticent; her openness evoked discretion.

A great deal of the reticence of diplomacy had, I think history shows, much better be spoken out.

I would rather fall short of the expectations of the boxes than fail in the eyes of the gallery, where reticence in the expression of critical opinion is not exactly a conspicuous virtue.

Someone has said that Ethel Barrymore has the reticence born of assurance whereas my monologues indicate my insecurity. The point is moot. It's unlikely I'll ever submit to a psychiatrist's couch. I don't want some stranger prowling around through my psyche, monkeying with my id. I don't need an analyst to tell me that I have never had any sense of security. Who has?

I like to lay low. I like to hang back. I like to be the person that's not really recognized.

Timidity has followed me throughout the years.

I was partly flattered, but mostly grateful that this implied he wasn't offended by my earlier reticence.

Religious rectitude is the sanctuary of the intellectually reticent

I was the shyest kid. I'd never speak, only if I had to. Honestly.