Pure truth cannot be assimilated by the crowd; it must be communicated by contagion.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the
blame and a little less than his share of the credit.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
I fear explanations explanatory of things explained.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
It pays to be obvious, especially if you have a reputation for subtlety.
—Isaac Asimov (1920–92) Russian-born American Writer, Scientist
Saying nothing… sometimes says the most.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people.
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) Irish Poet, Dramatist
Words are the most powerful drugs used by mankind.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Children’s Books Writer, Short story, Novelist, Poet, Journalist
The really important things are said over cocktails and are never done.
—Peter Drucker (1909–2005) Austrian-born Management Consultant
If we are strong, our strength will speak for itself. If we are weak, words will be of no help.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Communication is everyone’s panacea for everything.
—Tom Peters (b.1942) American Management Consultant, Author
No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
We seek pitifully to convey to others the treasures of our heart, but they have not the power to accept them, and so we go lonely, side by side but not together, unable to know our fellows and unknown by them.
—W. Somerset Maugham (1874–1965) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright
The tongue is the only instrument that gets sharper with use.
—Washington Irving (1783–1859) American Essayist, Biographer, Historian
Talk to people, not above them.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
Know that a word suddenly shot from the tongue is like an arrow shot from the bow. Son, that arrow won’t turn back on its way; you must damn the torrent at its source.
—Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207–73) Persian Muslim Mystic
Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Do but take care to express yourself in a plain, easy Manner, in well-chosen, significant and decent Terms, and to give a harmonious and pleasing Turn to your Periods: study to explain your Thoughts, and set them in the truest Light, labouring as much as possible, not to leave them dark nor intricate, but clear and intelligible.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
I have never accepted what many people have kindly said—namely that I inspired the nation. Their will was resolute and remorseless, and as it proved, unconquerable.It fell to me to express it.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Much unhappiness has come into the world because of bewilderment and things left unsaid.
—Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821–81) Russian Novelist, Essayist, Writer
Talking and eloquence are not the same.—To speak and to speak well are two things.—A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.
—Walt Disney (1901–66) American Entrepreneur
A world community can only exist with world communication, which means something more than extensive software facilities scattered about the globe. It means common understanding, a common tradition, common idea’s and common ideals.
—Robert Maynard Hutchins (1899–1977) American Educator
In communications, familiarity breeds apathy.
—William Bernbach
We cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another—until we speak quietly enough so that our words can be heard as well as our voices.
—Richard Nixon (1913–94) American Head of State, Lawyer
A phoneless cord is a great device for people who love peace and quiet.
—Unknown
The greatest truths are the simplest.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
He who knows, does not speak. He who speaks, does not know.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
If you wish to converse with me, define your terms
—Voltaire (1694–1778) French Philosopher, Author
From listening comes wisdom, and from speaking repentance.
—Italian Proverb
A writer writes not because he is educated but because he is driven by the need to communicate. Behind the need to communicate is the need to share. Behind the need to share is the need to be understood. The writer wants to be understood much more than he wants to be respected or praised or even loved. And that perhaps, is what makes him different from others.
—Leo Rosten (1908–97) Russian-born American Humorist, Teacher, Academic, Short Story Writer
There is no pleasure to me without communication: there is not so much as a sprightly thought comes into my mind that it does not grieve me to have produced alone, and that I have no one to tell it to.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
Talk is by far the most accessible of pleasures. It costs nothing in money, it is all profit, it completes our education, founds and fosters our friendships, and can be enjoyed at any age and in almost any state of health.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
I’m a great believer that any tool that enhances communication has profound effects in terms of how people can learn from each other, and how they can achieve the kind of freedoms that they’re interested in.
—Bill Gates (b.1955) American Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Author
The language of the body is the key that can unlock the soul.
—Constantin Stanislavski (1863–1938) Russian Actor, Theater Personality
It’s vital the monarchy keeps in touch with the people. It’s what I try and do.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
In saying what is obvious, never choose cunning. Yelling works better.
—Cynthia Ozick (b.1928) American Novelist, Short-story Writer, Essayist
The advantage of modern means of communication is they enable you to worry about things in all of the world
—Laurence J. Peter (1919–90) Canadian-born American Educator, Author
The Wright brothers didn’t contemplate the staying on the ground of things. Alexander Graham Bell didn’t contemplate the noncommunication of things. Thomas Edison didn’t contemplate the darkness of things. In order to float an idea into your reality, you must be willing to do a somersault into the unconceivable and land on your feet, contemplating what you want instead of what you don’t have.
—Wayne Dyer (b.1940) American Motivational Writer, Author, Motivational Speaker
It is only by expressing all that is inside that purer and purer streams come.
—Brenda Ueland (1891–1985) American Journalist, Editor, Writer, Teacher
You know how you hate to be interrupted, so why are you always doing it to me.
—Unknown
A good conversationalist is not one who remembers what was said, but says what someone wants to remember.
—John Mason Brown (1900–69) American Columnist, Journalist, Author
Extremists think “communication” means agreeing with them.
—Leo Rosten (1908–97) Russian-born American Humorist, Teacher, Academic, Short Story Writer
It must be that evil communications corrupt good dispositions.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
All noise is waste. So cultivate quietness in your speech, in your thoughts, in your emotions. Speak habitually low. Wait for attention and then you low words will be charged with dynamite.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
The royal road to a man’s heart is to talk to him about the things he treasures most.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
To spell out the obvious is often to call it in question.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
A Decalogue of Canons for observation in practical life. 1. Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day. 2. Never trouble another for what you can do yourself. 3. Never spend your money before you have it. 4. Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you. 5. Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst and cold. 6. We never repent of having eaten too little. 7. Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly. 8. How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened. 9. Take things always by their smooth handle. 10. When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, an hundred.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer