A closed mouth catches no flies.
—French Proverb
To climb a tree to catch a fish is talking much and doing nothing.
—Chinese Proverb
Be interesting, be enthusiastic… and don’t talk too much.
—Norman Vincent Peale (1898–1993) American Clergyman, Self-Help Author
Be sincere, be brief; be seated.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
I didn’t say the things I said.
—Yogi Berra (1925–2015) American Sportsperson
I sometimes marvel at the extraordinary docility with which Americans submit to speeches.
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–65) American Diplomat, Politician, Orator
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong.
—Sophocles (495–405 BCE) Ancient Greek Dramatist
One anecdote of a man is worth a volume of biography.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening.
—Dorothy Sarnoff (1914–2008) American Opera Singer, Speech Consultant
I love quotations because it is a joy to find thoughts one might have, beautifully expressed with much authority by someone recognizably wiser than oneself.
—Marlene Dietrich (1901–92) German-American Film Actress, Cabaret Performer
Talking and eloquence are not the same.—To speak and to speak well are two things.—A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks.
—Ben Jonson (1572–1637) English Dramatist, Poet, Actor
Before a man speaks, it is always safe to assume that he is a fool. After he speaks it is seldom necessary to assume.
—H. L. Mencken (1880–1956) American Journalist, Literary Critic
He who comes from afar may lie without fear of contradiction as he is sure to be listened to with the utmost attention.
—French Proverb
If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use the pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time; a tremendous whack.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Most speakers speak ten minutes too long.
—James C. Humes (1934–2021) American Author, Historian, Speechwriter
Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say too much.
—John Wayne (1907–79) American Academy Award-winning Actor, Western Icon
The people only understand what they can feel; the only orators that can affect them are those who move them.
—Alphonse de Lamartine (1790–1869) French Poet, Politician, Historian
Every man is born with the faculty of reason and the faculty of speech, but why should he be able to speak before he has anything to say?
—Benjamin Whichcote (1609–83) British Clergyman, Scholar
Half wits talk much, but say little.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
Nature, which gave us two eyes to see and two ears to hear, has given us but one tongue to speak.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
Never rise to speak till you have something to say; and when you have said it, cease.
—John Witherspoon (1723–94) Scottish-American Presbyterian Theologian
Do you wish people to think well of you?. Don’t speak well of yourself.
—Blaise Pascal (1623–62) French Mathematician, Physicist, Theologian
The trouble with talking too fast is you may say something you haven’t thought of yet.
—Ask Ann Landers (1918–2002) American Advice Columnist (Ruth Crowley/Eppie Lederer)
The first evil those who are prone to talk suffer, is that they hear nothing.
—Plutarch (c.46–c.120 CE) Greek Biographer, Philosopher
It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
Find out what’s keeping them up nights and offer hope. Your theme must be an answer to their fears.
—Gerald C. Meyers (1928–2023) American Industrialist
Only the prepared speaker deserves to be confident.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
Condense some daily experience into a glowing symbol and an audience is electrified.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Happy is the hearing man; unhappy the speaking man.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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