You seldom listen to me, and when you do you don’t hear, and when you do hear you hear wrong, and even when you hear right you change it so fast that it’s never the same.
—Marjorie Kellogg (1922–2005) American Journalist, Novel, Playwright
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
To listen is an effort, and just to hear is no merit. A duck hears also.
—Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) Russian-born American Composer, Musician
The secret of a good memory is attention, and attention to a subject depends upon our interest in it. We rarely forget that which has made a deep impression on our minds.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
When I have been listened to and when I have been heard, I am able to re-perceive my world in a new way and to go on. It is astonishing how elements that seem insoluble become soluble when someone listens, how confusions that seem irremediable turn into relatively clear flowing streams when one is heard. I have deeply appreciated the times that I have experienced this sensitive, empathic, concentrated listening.
—Carl Rogers (1902–1987) American Psychologist
Lenin could listen so intently that he exhausted the speaker.
—Isaiah Berlin (1907–97) British Liberal Philosopher, Historian
Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue-to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
The young people who come to me in the hope of hearing me utter a few memorable maxims are quite disappointed. Aphorisms are not my forte, I say nothing but banalities…. I listen to them and they go away delighted.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
I’m glad I understand that while language is a gift, listening is a responsibility.
—Nikki Giovanni (b.1943) American Poet, Writer, Activist, Educator
To meet at all, one must open ones eyes to another; and there is no true conversation no matter how many words are spoken, unless the eye, unveiled and listening, opens itself to the other.
—Jessamyn West
To listen well, is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well, and is as essential to all true conversation.
—Chinese Proverb
Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d preferred to talk.
—Doug Larson (1926–2017) American Columnist
No man would listen to you talk if he didn’t know it was his turn next.
—E. W. Howe (1853–1937) American Novelist, Editor
We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less.
—Diogenes Laertius (f.3rd Century CE) Biographer of the Greek Philosophers
A person hears only what they understand.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
One of the hardest things to do in life is to listen without intent to reply.
—Unknown
The word is half his that speaks, and half his that hears it.
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–92) French Essayist
The first duty of love is to listen.
—Paul Tillich (1886–1965) American Lutheran Theologian, Philosopher
I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention.
—Diane Sawyer (b.1945) American Journalist, TV Personality
The less you talk, the more you’re listened to.
—Pauline Phillips (Abigail van Buren) (b.1918) American Columnist
If animals could talk, the world would lose its best listeners.
—Robert Brault
A man is already halfway in love with any woman who listens to him.
—Brendan Behan (1923–64) Irish Poet, Novelist, Playwright
Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf.
—American Indian Proverb
God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we can hear twice as much as we say.
—Unknown
Being listened to and heard is one of the greatest desires of the human heart.
—Richard Carlson (1912–77) American Actor, TV Personality, Film Director, Screenwriter
To talk to someone who does not listen is enough to tense the devil.
—Pearl Bailey (1918–1990) American Jazz Singer, Actress, Writer
The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Most men believe that it would benefit them if they could get a little from those who have more. How much more would it benefit them if they would learn a little from those who know more.
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
Listening, not imitation, may be the sincerest form of flattery.
—Joyce Brothers (1927–2013) American Psychologist, Advice Columnist