I hear the words, the thoughts, the feeling tones, the personal meaning, even the meaning that is below the conscious intent of the speaker. Sometimes too, in a message which superficially is not very important, I hear a deep human cry that lies buried and unknown far below the surface of the person. So I have learned to ask myself, can I hear the sounds and sense the shape of this other person’s inner world? Can I resonate to what he is saying so deeply that I sense the meanings he is afraid of, yet would like to communicate, as well as those he knows?
—Carl Rogers (1902–1987) American Psychologist
We shall never be able to remove suspicion and fear as potential causes of war until communication is permitted to flow, free and open, across international boundaries.
—Harry S. Truman (1884–1972) American Head of State
When I am getting ready to reason with a man, I spend one-third of my time thinking about myself and what I am going to say and two-thirds about him and what he is going to say.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
When you have nothing to say, say nothing; a weak defense strengthens your opponent, and silence is less injurious than a bad reply.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Since in order to speak, one must first listen, learn to speak by listening.
—Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207–73) Persian Muslim Mystic
The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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
What is the shortest word in the English language that contains the letters: abcdef? Answer: feedback. Don’t forget that feedback is one of the essential elements of good communication.
—Unknown
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
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
The greatest truths are the simplest.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Of what does not concern you, say nothing good or bad.
—Italian Proverb
Use what language you will, you can never say anything but what you are.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
It is an excellent rule to be observed in all discussions, that men should give soft words and hard arguments; that they should not so much strive to silence or vex, as to convince their opponents.
—John Wilkins (1614–72) English Anglican Clergyman, Author, Administrator
It is only by expressing all that is inside that purer and purer streams come.
—Brenda Ueland (1891–1985) American Journalist Memoirist
When the eyes say one thing and the tongue another, the practiced person relies on the language of the first.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
What view is one likely to take of the state of a person’s mind when his speech is wild and incoherent and knows no constraint?
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
The careful application of terror is also a form of communication.
—Unknown
What is required is not a lot words, but effectual ones.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Communication is depositing a part of yourself in another person.
—Unknown
Think much, speak little, and write less.
—Italian Proverb
If then the power of speech is as great as any that can be named,—if the origin of language is by many philosophers considered nothing short of divine—if by means of words the secrets of the heart are brought to light, pain of soul is relieved, hidden grief is carried off, sympathy conveyed, experience recorded, and wisdom perpetuated,—if by great authors the many are drawn up into unity, national character is fixed, a people speaks, the past and the future, the East and the West are brought into communication with each other,—if such men are, in a word, the spokesmen and the prophets of the human family—it will not answer to make light of Literature or to neglect its study: rather we may be sure that, in proportion as we master it in whatever language, and imbibe its spirit, we shall ourselves become in our own measure the ministers of like benefits to others—be they many or few, be they in the obscurer or the more distinguished walks of life—who are united to us by social ties, and are within the sphere of our personal influence.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
People buy into the leader before they buy into the vision.
—John C. Maxwell (b.1947) American Christian Professional Speaker, Author, Clergyman
Philosophy is good advice, and no one gives good advice at the top of his lungs.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Men and women belong to different species, and communication between them is a science still in its infancy.
—Bill Cosby (b.1937) American Actor, Comedian, Activist, Producer, Author
Self-expression must pass into communication for its fulfillment.
—Pearl S. Buck (1892–1973) American Novelist, Human Rights Activist
Pure truth cannot be assimilated by the crowd; it must be communicated by contagion.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Be sincere; be brief; be seated.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
Words are the most powerful drugs used by mankind.
—Rudyard Kipling (1865–1936) British Children’s Books Writer, Short story, Novelist, Poet, Journalist
Do you want a sign that you’re asleep? Here it is: you’re suffering. Suffering is a sign that you’re out of touch with the truth. Suffering is given to you that you might open your eyes to the truth, that you might understand that there’s falsehood somewhere, just as physical pain is given to you so you will understand that there is disease or illness somewhere. Suffering occurs when you clash with reality. When your illusions clash with reality, when your falsehoods clash with truth, then you have suffering. Otherwise there is no suffering.
—Anthony de Mello (1931–87) Indian-born American Theologian
Take advantage of every opportunity to practice your communication skills so that when important occasions arise, you will have the gift, the style, the sharpness, the clarity, and the emotions to affect other people.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
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
That must be wonderful; I have no idea of what it means.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
Take care of the sense and the sounds will take care of themselves.
—Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) (1832–98) British Anglican Author, Mathematician, Clergyman, Photographer, Logician
Too much agreement kills a chat.
—Eldridge Cleaver (1935–98) American Author, Activist
It is greed to do all the talking but not to want to listen at all.
—Democritus (c.460–c.370 BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Speech is power: speech is to persuade, to convert, to compel. It is to bring another out of his bad sense into your good sense.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963) American Poet
The worst thing about the miracle of modern communications is the Pavlovian pressure it places upon everyone to communicate whenever a bell rings.
—Russell Baker (1925–2019) American Journalist, Humorist, Television Host
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
I fear explanations explanatory of things explained.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
My basic rule is to speak slowly and simply so that my audience has an opportunity to follow and think about what I am saying.
—Margaret Chase Smith (1897–1995) American Politician
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
One kind word can warm three winter months.
—Japanese Proverb
A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not considered a good man because he is a good talker.
—Zhuang Zhou (c.369–c.286 BCE) Chinese Taoist Philosopher
No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Genuine poetry can communicate before it is understood.
—T. S. Eliot (1888–1965) American-born British Poet, Dramatist, Literary Critic
It must be that evil communications corrupt good dispositions.
—Menander (c.343–c.291 BCE) Greek Comic Dramatist, Poet
The most important thing you wear is the expression on your face
—Unknown