Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
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
Conversation has a kind of charm about it, an insinuating and insidious something that elicits secrets just like love or liquor.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
A single conversation across the table with a wise man is worth a month’s study of books.
—Chinese Proverb
In company it is a very great fault to be more forward in setting off one’s self, and talking to show one’s parts, than to learn the worth, and be truly acquainted with the abilities of men.—He that makes it his business not to know, but to be known, is like a foolish tradesman, who makes all the haste he can to sell off his old stock, but takes no thought of laying in any new.
—Pierre Charron (1541–1603) French Preacher, Philosopher
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
I find we are growing serious, and then we are in great danger of being dull.
—William Congreve (1670–1729) English Playwright, Poet
To listen well, is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well, and is as essential to all true conversation.
—Chinese Proverb
Can we talk?
—Joan Rivers (1933–2014) American Comedienne, 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
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
Debate is masculine, conversation is feminine.
—Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) American Teacher, Writer, Philosopher
There cannot be a greater rudeness than to interrupt another in the current of his discourse.
—John Locke (1632–1704) English Philosopher, Physician
The more you know the less you need to say.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
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.
—Konstantin Stanislavski (1863–1938) Russian Actor, Theater Personality
Speech is for the convenience of those who are hard of hearing; but there are many fine things which we cannot say if we have to shout.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) 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
No one is qualified to converse in public except those contented to do without such conversation.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Today it is not the classroom nor the classics which are the repositories of models of eloquence, but the ad agencies.
—Marshall Mcluhan (1911–80) Canadian Writer, Thinker, Educator
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Let us speak, though we show all our faults and weaknesses,—for it is a sign of strength to be weak, to know it, and out with it—not in a set way and ostentatiously, though, but incidentally and without premeditation.
—Herman Melville (1819–91) American Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Poet
Conversation is an art in which a man has all mankind for competitors.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Speak well of every one if you speak of them at all—none of us are so very good.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
A talk is like a woman’s dress. Long enough to cover the subject, but short enough to be interesting.
—Unknown
Conversation is an exercise of the mind; gossip is merely an exercise of the tongue.
—Unknown
He who sedulously attends, pointedly asks, calmly speaks, coolly answers, and ceases when he has no more to say, is in possession of some of the best requisites of conversation.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
A good conversationalist is not one who remembers what was said, but says what someone wants to remember.
—John Mason Brown (1900–69) American Author, Drama Critic
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
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
I’ve decided to discontinue my long talks. It’s because of my throat. Someone threatened to cut it.
—Unknown
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