"Absolute silence leads to sadness. It is the image of death"
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau
About this Quote
Jean-Jacques Rousseau's quote speaks with the significance of interaction and connection in life. He recommends that absolute silence results in unhappiness, which is a metaphor for death. He is suggesting that without interaction and connection, life is empty and worthless. This is due to the fact that communication and connection are necessary for humans to feel alive and connected to the world around them. Without it, life can become dull and depressing. Rousseau's quote is a suggestion that we must strive to maintain significant relationships with others and to participate in significant conversations. It is also a pointer that we should require time to value the appeal of life and the joy of connecting with others. By doing so, we can avoid the unhappiness of outright silence and the image of death.
"Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there's a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see"