Benjamin Watson Quotes

In the midst of a discourse, speak not.

There cannot be greater rudeness than to interrupt another in the current of his discourse.

There is a time to speak and a time to listen, and sometimes people need to shut up.

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

I was taught in radio: if somebody is talking, then you don't talk over them.

The person who talks a lot or talks over people misses out because they weren't listening.

We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less.

The world would be happier if men had the same capacity to be silent that they have to speak.

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

Only once in my life was I on the edge of incivility. I do not like to be unkind.

Stillness of person and steadiness of features are signal marks of good breeding.

I don't hate old men but listen when being spoken to.

Having two ears and one tongue, we should listen twice as much as we speak.

It illustrates vividly my incapacity of knowing when to be silent and when to speak.

The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less.

Just because you can say things that are uncivil does not mean that your should say things that are uncivil.

It's so easy to butt into a conversation and offer your own thoughts or opinions, but try not to interrupt. Instead, focus on what the other person is saying, think twice and be the person that listens. It's so much more valuable than constantly talking.

I'm not disrespectful, I try to be polite.

I get a choice every time I have to open my mouth: that it can be with civility and dignity and grace - or not.

In the contemporary world, we think of politeness as surface behavior, like frosting - it's sweet and attractive and finishes off the cake. But 19th century nobility and the enlightened thinkers and stoics before them viewed manners in a very different way. To them, manners are an outward expression of an inward struggle.

Silence and modesty are very valuable qualities in conversation.

If your mind isn't open, keep your mouth shut too.

You have a problem with allowing someone to finish speaking.

The English gentleman is a combination of silence, courtesy, dignity, sport, newspapers and honesty.

When another is asked a question, take special care not to interrupt to answer it yourself.