Octavia E. Butler Quotes

Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go... And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it's all over.

The most challenging part of being a dad is self-restraint. So often your instinct is to teach and tell. I am constantly reminding myself to listen to them.

I'm a forgiver. I might not forget, but I forgive. My mother, father and older brother always told me: 'Don't hold grudges. If you do that, you don't lower yourself down to your adversary. Just treat people the way you want to be treated.' I honestly think that's why I was able to survive and have some success.

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?

I will always be open to receive my friends. I will not force myself on them.

It's so important to keep a marriage alive with small treats and doing little things for each other. Just remembering to say nice things and to have listening time is vital. That ghastly phrase 'quality time' means taking three minutes to sit down and be still with someone rather than yelling over your shoulder as you rush out.

I think a good friend, to me, is all about trust and loyalty. You don't ever want to second-guess whether you can tell your friend something.

The most I can do for my friend is simply be his friend.

My wife tells me I need to learn to be more patient with my son.

I'm a darned good listener.

I always take time for somebody who wants to talk to me.

The essence of true friendship is to make allowance for another's little lapses.

One of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood.

I want to be a mom who listens.

Listening is such a simple act. It requires us to be present, and that takes practice, but we don't have to do anything else. We don't have to advise, or coach, or sound wise. We just have to be willing to sit there and listen.

When you're in the world I'm in, sometimes you have to remember that when you see your friends, you need to ask them what they've been doing, and you need to grow up and learn your life isn't necessarily more interesting than other people's.

People of power have to show empathy and kindness to the young.

Empathy is important, openness, honesty, and an understanding for others.

I have a lot of empathy, and I think that's where mothering starts. You are there to empathise and facilitate.

Always be kind, especially in times when it seems like everyone is giving up on each other. Love harder.

There are no shortcuts to genuine friendship. Relationships are built over time.

Employ empathy.

It's a hard thing to find in people: to sit and just be present with someone, even for two minutes.

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