In our household doubts more troubling than these were suffered in silence. The spiritual void I have seen in so many of Istanbul's rich, Westernised, secularist families is evident in these silences. Everyone talks openly about mathematics, success at school, football and having fun, but they grapple with the most basic questions of existence - love, compassion, religion, the meaning of life, jealousy, hatred - in trembling confusion and painful solitude. They light a cigarette, give their attention to the music on the radio, return wordlessly to their inner worlds. . Orhan Pamuk
About This Quote

There are situations when silence is more powerful than words. Silence can be a key in solving problems. It is also the power that makes people feel what is going on around them. It's not that these people are not open to dialogue, they just choose to keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves. They use silence to protect themselves from the pain of life.

Source: Istanbul: Memories And The City

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