Only the prepared speaker deserves to be confident.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
Most of the time in married life is taken up by talk.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
I sometimes marvel at the extraordinary docility with which Americans submit to speeches.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
Be sincere, be brief; be seated.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
When ever the speech is corrupted so is the mind.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
And ’tis remarkable that they talk most who have the least to say.
—Matthew Prior (1664–1721) English Poet, Diplomat
Speakers who talk about what life has taught them never fail to keep the attention of their listeners.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
Tell the audience what you’re going to say, say it; then tell them what you’ve said.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
We talk little when we do not talk about ourselves.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Look wise say nothing and grunt, speech was given to conceal thought.
—William Osler (1849–1919) Canadian Physician
Don’t talk unless you can improve the silence.
—Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) Argentine Writer, Essayist, Poet
Talk is cheap, except when Congress does it.
—Cullen Hightower (b.1923) American Humorist
The words of tongue should have three gate keepers.
—Arabic Proverb
I don’t care how much a person talks, if they only say it in a few words.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
Most people have to talk so they won’t hear.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
A closed mouth catches no flies.
—French Proverb
Grasp the subject, the words will follow.
—Cato the Elder (Marcus Porcius Cato) (234–149 BCE) Roman Statesman
A smart person knows what to say, a wise person knows whether or not to say it.
—Unknown
What is uttered is finished and done with.
—Thomas Mann (1875–1955) German Novelist, Short Story Writer, Social Critic, Philanthropist, Essayist
If it requires great tact to speak to the purpose, it requires no less to know when to be silent.
—Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613–80) French Writer
A good speaker makes a good liar.
—German Proverb
Condense some daily experience into a glowing symbol and an audience is electrified.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
To climb a tree to catch a fish is talking much and doing nothing.
—Chinese Proverb
He who knows little knows enough if he knows how to hold is tongue.
—Italian Proverb
Before you speak ask yourself if what you are going to say is true, is kind, is necessary, is helpful. If the answer is no, maybe what you are about to say should be left unsaid.
—Bernard Meltzer (1916–98) American Radio Personality
Men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues, and can moderate their desires more than their words.
—Baruch Spinoza (1632–77) Dutch Philosopher, Theologian
First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak..
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
I do not speak of what I cannot praise.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
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