The Power of Silence

The Power of Silence• Why silence?

– There is no such thing as nothing – there is always something. – Silence is an absence of words, but not of

meaning.

The Power of Silence

– A word can be emphasized and a thought underlined by silence.

– Silence has a certain energy to it like no other energy source. It has the power to get people to think and to act. It can help slow the mind down.

Meisner on Silence• “Silence has a myriad of meanings. In the theater silence is an absence

of words, but never an absence of meaning.”

• Meisner: “A moment of silence is something, too. Let me prove it to you. Ask me whether I think you have talent.”

• Student: “Mr. Meisner, do you think I have talent?”

• Meisner’s head cocks away from the student and he maintains complete silence. The class begins to laugh.

• Meisner: “That was silent, wasn’t it? My silence was very expressive.”

The Power of Silence

• The trouble with silence is that it can make people feel uncomfortable and alone, that’s why the world is filled with TV’s that have been left on when nobody is watching, for background noise.

• Friends and family ask me what the hardest thing to do on stage is. Most are expecting me to say “cry,” so when they hear me say, “be quiet” their jaws drop.

The Power of Silence

• Because of how uncomfortable silence is, many people feel the need to fill the void of silence with needless chatter.

• The rapid, close, unbroken delivery of words cause ideas to become blurred and to recede into common noise.

The Power of Silence

Let yourself be affected!

The Power of Silence

• This picture is priceless! Kevin’s facial expression reveals more about what he was feeling in that moment than any four-letter word or guttural sound he could have let out.