We sometimes disputed, and very fond we were of argument, and very desirous of confuting one another, which is apt to become a very bad habit. I had caught it by reading my father’s books of dispute about religion. Persons of good sense, I have since observed, seldom fall into it, except lawyers, university men, and men of all sorts that have been bred at Edinburgh.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
To acquire immunity to eloquence is of the utmost importance to the citizens of a democracy.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
Those who have but little business to attend to, are great talkers. The less men think, the more they talk.
—Montesquieu (1689–1755) French Political Philosopher, Jurist
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
Speech is the gift of all, but the thought of few.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
If you ever have to support a flagging conversation, introduce the topic of eating.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
The most important things to say are those which often I did not think necessary for me to say — because they were too obvious.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
Conversation is an exercise of the mind; gossip is merely an exercise of the tongue.
—Unknown
I like to do all the talking myself. It saves time, and prevents arguments.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Better pointed bullets than pointed speeches.
—Otto von Bismarck (1815–98) German Chancellor, Prime Minister
Listening to someone talk isn’t at all like listening to their words played over on a machine. What you hear when you have a face before you is never what you hear when you have before you a winding tape.
—Oriana Fallaci (1929–2006) Italian Journalist, Historian
Speech of yourself ought to be seldom and well chosen.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
Conversation is the laboratory and workshop of the student.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
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
When a man gets talking about himself, he seldom fails to be eloquent and often reaches the sublime.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
The first ingredient in conversation is truth; the next, good sense; the third, good humor; and the fourth, wit.
—William Temple (1881–1944) British Clergyman, Theologian
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
When in the company of sensible men, we ought to be doubly cautious of talking too much, lest we lose two good things—their good opinion and our own improvement; for what we have to say we know, but what they have to say we know not.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Say nothing good of yourself, you will be distrusted; say nothing bad of yourself, you will be taken at your word.
—Philibert Joseph Roux (1780–1854) French Surgeon
The great secret of succeeding in conversation is to admire little, to hear much; always to distrust our own reason, and sometimes that of our friends; never to pretend to wit, but to make that of others appear as much as possibly we can; to hearken to what is said and to answer to the purpose.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency. It proceeds from not knowing what is going on in other people’s minds.
—Walter Bagehot (1826–77) English Economist, Journalist
A long tongue shortens life.
—Unknown
Speech is an arrangement of notes that will never be played again.
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940) American Novelist
They never taste who always drink; they always talk who never think.
—Matthew Prior (1664–1721) English Poet, Diplomat
I prefer tongue-tied knowledge to ignorant loquacity.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
The techniques of opening conversation are universal. I knew long ago and rediscovered that the best way to attract attention, help, and conversation is to be lost. A man who seeing his mother starving to death on a path kicks her in the stomach to clear the way, will cheerfully devote several hours of his time giving wrong directions to a total stranger who claims to be lost.
—John Steinbeck (1902–68) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Journalist
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
Eloquence, at its highest pitch, leaves little room for reason or reflection, but addresses itself entirely to the desires and affections, captivating the willing hearers, and subduing their understanding.
—David Hume (1711–76) Scottish Philosopher, Historian
Conversation should touch everything but should concentrate itself on nothing.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
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
Never try to impress people with the profundity of your thought by the obscurity of your language. Whatever has been thoroughly thought through can be stated simply.
—Unknown
Patrick Henry was more impressed by Washington’s quiet conversation than by the fervid oratory of others. When asked whom he considered the greatest man in Congress, he answered: “Rutledge, if you speak of eloquence, is by far the greatest orator, but Colonel Washington, who has no pretensions to eloquence, is a man of more solid judgment and information than any man on that floor.”
—Rupert Hughes (1872–1956) American Historian, Novelist, Film Director, Composer
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
All speech, written or spoken, is a dead language, until it finds a willing and prepared hearer.
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–94) Scottish 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
The happiest conversation is that of which nothing is distinctly remembered, but a general effect of pleasing impression.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
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
Little-minded people’s thoughts move in such small circles that five minutes conversation gives you an arc long enough to determine their whole curve.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. (1809–94) American Physician, Essayist
In my opinion, the most fruitful and natural play of the mind is in conversation. I find it sweeter than any other action in life; and if I were forced to choose, I think I would rather lose my sight than my hearing and voice. The study of books is a drowsy and feeble exercise which does not warm you up.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
With thee conversing I forget all time.
—John Milton (1608–74) English Poet, Civil Servant, Scholar, Debater
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
You have such strong words at command, that they make the smallest argument seem formidable.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
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
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
She has lost the art of conversation, but not, unfortunately, the power of speech.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Never hold anyone by the button or the hand in order to be heard out; for if people are unwilling to hear you, you had better hold your tongue than them.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
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
There is nothing so dangerous for anyone who has something to hide as conversation! A human being, Hastings, cannot resist the opportunity to reveal himself and express his personality which conversation gives him. Every time he will give himself away.
—Agatha Christie (1890–1976) British Novelist, Short-Story Writer, Playwright