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

The saying contrasts two modes of communication—silence and speech—to argue that real understanding depends less on literal words than on empathy, attentiveness, and shared context. If someone cannot “read” what is conveyed by restraint, pauses, or unspoken feeling, they are unlikely to grasp the deeper intent behind spoken explanations either. The line is often used to justify disengaging from fruitless argument: when a listener lacks the disposition or capacity to understand, additional words may only add noise. More broadly, it elevates tacit knowledge and emotional intelligence, suggesting that meaning is relational and interpretive, not merely verbal.

• "He who cannot understand your silence cannot understand your words."
• "Those who do not understand your silence will never understand your words."