Theodore Zeldin Quotes

Listening is being able to be changed by the other person.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

I think I'm always trying to see the other's point of view, dealing in a very heart-to-heart way.

We must first listen, then speak - with humility - to genuinely hear the perspectives of those with whom we don't immediately or instinctively agree.

So when you are listening to somebody, completely, attentively, then you are listening not only to the words, but also to the feeling of what is being conveyed, to the whole of it, not part of it.

Change begins with understanding and understanding begins by identifying oneself with another person: in a word, empathy. The arts enable us to put ourselves in the minds, eyes, ears and hearts of other human beings.

You don't accomplish a lot by changing people's opinions by shoving facts down their throat. I think you change people's opinions by opening your heart up and showing the parallels between you and another person. That's how people's ideas shift.

I simply do not think that yelling, swearing, threatening or belittling will get you to the place you want to be faster than kindness, understanding, patience and a little willingness to compromise.

If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from that person's angle as well as from your own.

We cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another

When people do come face to face with each other as human beings, they begin to understand each other better.

It's important to really listen to the other person and have them feel like they're heard, to make sure the relationship feels equal.

I can understand that people who have a very different view to mine are motivated by the purest of motives. All I ask is that they might give the same benefit of the doubt to those with whom they might disagree with.

Empathy is about two people - two people meeting, getting to know each other and tuning in to what the other person is thinking and feeling.

It's important for people to, instead of automatically assuming everything the opposite side says is incorrect, you have to at least listen and see why someone might feel a certain way.

It took me a while to realize that the only way to really communicate with people is to give them your point of view.

Try to understand men. If you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and almost always leads to love.

The more people see that they are being understood, they become more motivated to understand your point of view.

Empathy is the most mysterious transaction that the human soul can have, and it's accessible to all of us, but we have to give ourselves the opportunity to identify, to plunge ourselves in a story where we see the world from the bottom up or through another's eyes or heart.

Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly.

No man really knows about other human beings. The best he can do is to suppose that they are like himself.

Tolerance is giving to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself.

The measure of a conversation is how much mutual recognition there is in it; how much shared there is in it. If you're talking about what's in your own head, or without thought to what people looking and listening will feel, you might as well be in a room talking to yourself.

When I understand myself, I understand you, and out of that understanding comes love.

You should be able to voice your opinion and respect the voice of the other side. You should be willing to educate yourself and know what it is you're dealing with.