The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another man’s observation, not overturning it.
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
He kept up with the current literature, and distilled from it a polite essence, with which he knew how to perfume his conversation.
—William Dean Howells (1837–1920) American Novelist, Critic.
Language is legislation, speech is its code. We do not see the power which is in speech because we forget that all speech is a classification, and that all classifications are oppressive.
—Roland Barthes (1915–80) French Writer, Critic, Teacher
There is nothing that exasperates people more than a display of superior ability or brilliance in conversation. They seem pleased at the time, but their envy makes them curse the conversationalist in their heart.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
One’s feelings waste themselves in words; they ought all to be distilled into action … which bring results.
—Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) English Nurse
Not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
—George Augustus Henry Sala (1828–95) British Journalist
Conversation is an art in which a man has all mankind for competitors.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I don’t like to talk much with people who always agree with me. It is amusing to coquette with an echo for a little while, but one soon tires of it.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Talk to every woman as if you loved her, and to every man as if he bored you, and at the end of your first season you will have the reputation of possessing the most perfect social tact.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
I’ve decided to discontinue my long talks. It’s because of my throat. Someone threatened to cut it.
—Unknown
Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
True eloquence consists in saying all that should be said, and that only.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Conversation warms the mind, enlivens the imagination, and is continually starting fresh game that is immediately pursued and taken, which would never have occurred in the driller intercourse of epistolary correspondence.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so it is of small wits to talk much and say nothing.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
Debate is masculine, conversation is feminine.
—Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) American Teacher, Writer, Philosopher
I find we are growing serious, and then we are in great danger of being dull.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
I prefer tongue-tied knowledge to ignorant loquacity.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The pith of conversation does not consist in exhibiting your own superior knowledge on matters of small importance, but in enlarging, improving, and correcting the information you possess, by the authority of others.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
It has been said that our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, but only empties today of its strength.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
No collection of people who are all waiting for the same thing are capable of holding a natural conversation. Even if the thing they are waiting for is only a taxi.
—Ben Elton (b.1959) English Comedian, Writer
It is the still, small voice that the soul heeds, not the deafening blasts of doom.
—William Dean Howells (1837–1920) American Novelist, Critic.
Silence is one great art of conversation.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Speech of yourself ought to be seldom and well chosen.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
I don’t mind how much my ministers talk—as long as they do what I say.
—Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British Head of State
Saying what we think gives a wider range of conversation than saying what we know.
—Cullen Hightower (b.1923) American Humorist
Let us not look east and west for materials of conversation, but rest in presence and unity. A just feeling will fast enough supply fuel for discourse, if speaking be more grateful than silence. When people come to see us, we foolishly prattle, lest we be inhospitable. But things said for conversation are chalk eggs. Don’t say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say to the contrary. A lady of my acquaintance said, I don’t care so much for what they say as I do for what makes them say it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
An American cannot converse, but he can discuss, and his talk falls into a dissertation. He speaks to you as if he was addressing a meeting; and if he should chance to become warm in the discussion, he will say “Gentlemen” to the person with whom he is conversing.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
Lettuce is like conversation: it must be fresh and crisp, and so sparkling that you scarcely notice the bitter in it.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
The resource of bigotry and intolerance, when convicted of error, is always the same; silenced by argument, it endeavors to silence by persecution, in old times by fire and sword, in modern days by the tongue.
—Charles Simmons (1924–2017) American Editor, Novelist
A single conversation across the table with a wise man is worth a month’s study of books.
—Chinese Proverb
All speech, written or spoken, is a dead language, until it finds a willing and prepared hearer.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish Novelist
Repartee is perfect, when it effects its purpose with a double edge. Repartee is the highest order of wit, as it bespeaks the coolest yet quickest exercise of genius at a moment when the passions are roused.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist
We have as many planes of speech as does a painting planes of perspective which create perspective in a phrase. The most important word stands out most vividly defined in the very foreground of the sound plane. Less important words create a series of deeper planes.
—Constantin Stanislavski (1863–1938) Russian Actor, Theater Personality
She has lost the art of conversation, but not, unfortunately, the power of speech.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Everything becomes a little different as soon as it is spoken out loud.
—Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) German-born Swiss Novelist, Poet
If other people are going to talk, conversation becomes impossible.
—James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834–1903) American Painter, Etcher
My observation is that, generally speaking, poverty of speech is the outward evidence of poverty of mind.
—Bruce Fairchild Barton (1886–1967) American Author, Advertising Executive, Politician
Conversation. What is it? A Mystery! It’s the art of never seeming bored, of touching everything with interest, of pleasing with trifles, of being fascinating with nothing at all. How do we define this lively darting about with words, of hitting them back and forth, this sort of brief smile of ideas which should be conversation?
—Guy de Maupassant (1850-93) French Novelist, Short-story Writer
If you ever have to support a flagging conversation, introduce the topic of eating.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
The moment a man talks to his fellows he begins to lie.
—Hilaire Belloc (1870–1953) British Historian, Poet, Critic
We often forgive those who bore us, but we cannot forgive those whom we bore.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
When you fall into a man’s conversation, the first thing you should consider is, whether he has a greater inclination to hear you, or that you should hear him.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
Repose is as necessary in conversation as in a picture.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
The great gift of conversation lies less in displaying it ourselves than in drawing it out of others. He who leaves your company pleased with himself and his own cleverness is perfectly well pleased with you.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
They say women talk too much. If you have worked in Congress you know that the filibuster was invented by men.
—Clare Boothe Luce (1903–87) American Playwright, Diplomat, Journalist, Diplomat, Elected Rep
Well, well, perhaps I am a bit of a talker. A popular fellow such as I am—my friends get round me—we chaff, we sparkle, we tell witty stories—and somehow my tongue gets wagging. I have the gift of conversation. I’ve been told I ought to have a salon, whatever that may be.
—Kenneth Grahame (1859–1932) Scottish Children’s Writer
The more you know the less you need to say.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker