“ if nobody spoke unless he had something to say . . . the human race would very soon lose the use of speech. ”
W. Somerset Maugham, The Painted Veil (1925). copy citation
| Author | W. Somerset Maugham |
|---|---|
| Source | The Painted Veil |
| Topic | speech purpose |
| Date | 1925 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | https://www.gutenberg.org/files/64682/64682-h/64682-h.htm |
Context
“"I said it was raining cats and dogs," she repeated.
"I heard you," he answered, with his affectionate smile.
It showed that he had not meant to be offensive. He did not speak because he had nothing to say. But if nobody spoke unless he had something to say, Kitty reflected, with a smile, the human race would very soon lose the use of speech.
XIII The fact was, of course, that he had no charm. That was why he was not popular, and she had not been long in Tching-Yen before she discovered that he was not. She remained very vague about his work.” source
"I heard you," he answered, with his affectionate smile.
It showed that he had not meant to be offensive. He did not speak because he had nothing to say. But if nobody spoke unless he had something to say, Kitty reflected, with a smile, the human race would very soon lose the use of speech.
XIII The fact was, of course, that he had no charm. That was why he was not popular, and she had not been long in Tching-Yen before she discovered that he was not. She remained very vague about his work.” source
Meaning and analysis
