Dietrich Bonhoeffer Quotes

Instead of talking in the hope that people will listen, try listening in the hope that people will talk.

If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk.

People love to talk but hate to listen.

We do God’s work for our brothers and sisters when we learn to listen to them. So often Christians, especially preachers, think that their only service is always to have to 'offer' something when they are together with other people. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking. Many people seek a sympathetic ear and do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking even when they should be listening.

We must all try to empathize before we criticize. Ask someone what's wrong before telling them they are wrong.

You want to talk to someone; first open your ears.

One of the things I found is that the things we want to say for well-intentioned motives often cause more harm than good. People don't need our words. They mainly need our presence, they need our love. And if you come in too quickly with explanations, you may do more harm than good.

People always say 'They [teens] need a good talking to.' I've never agreed with that. A kid needs a good listening to.

To listen with empathy is the most important human skill.

Just as our love for God begins with listening to God's Word, the beginning of love for other Christians is learning to listen to them.

Listen more than you talk.

The best way to persuade people is with your ears - by listening to them.

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

Silence may be golden, but can you think of a better way to entertain someone than to listen to him?

Some people think that you have to be the loudest voice in the room to make a difference. That is just not true. Often, the best thing we can do is turn down the volume. When the sound is quieter, you can actually hear what someone else is saying. And that can make a world of difference.

When I was young I used to listen to other people and to try and understand what they thought and where they were coming from. I listened and didn't speak.

I'm a darned good listener.

She was a genius at listening.

I am running on the fact that I am doing a good job listening to people.

When people are saying something to you, you gotta listen to them.

The greatest skill that I have is what the viewer has: I listen. I try to listen silently.

You need to talk to people, and you need to hear what it is they have to say.

I think, in a world of mouths, I want to be an ear.

Listen if you want to be heard

If God had wanted us to talk more than listen, he would have given us two mouths rather than two ears.