Kindness is a language the dumb can speak and the deaf can hear and understand.
Christian Nestell Bovee (1820-1904) American epigrammatist, writer, publisher
Thoughts, Feelings, & Fancies (1857)
Slightly revised in Bovee's Intuitions & Summaries of Thought (1862): "Kindness: a language which the dumb can speak, and the deaf can understand."
Since the 2000s, frequently misattributed to Mark Twain. More information: The Apocryphal Twain: "Kindness is language the deaf can hear." - Center for Mark Twain Studies.
Is the quote by Bovee “kindness is the language which the deaf can hear…” copyrighted? I’d like to use it in a book I am writing about church visitors.
Gail Payne
Bovee’s writings are long expired under US copyright laws, and, even if not, extracting a phrase such as this would fall under fair use. (I am not a lawyer, but quick research on copyright will set any concerns at ease.)
As for borrowing it from here, my “Legal Stuff” in the sidebar hopefully clears up any questions. I assert no copyright over things other people have said. If there is stuff I’ve added (commentary, memes, etc.), or if you are trying to be courteous, all I ask is mention or a link of where you got it from. I consider this a non-profit, educational site, and am happy to share. Holler if you have any other questions.