Blaise Pascal Quotes

Skillful conversationalists can explore disagreements and make points in ways that feel constructive and positive rather than combative or corrective.

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.

For most of your career, what you're trying to do is to step into other people's shoes.

Usually, you can figure out where a person's mistakes came from if you ask them the genesis of their thought process: 'Why did you do it this way?' As opposed to telling them they did it the wrong way. Understanding their thought process will ultimately help you be able to communicate with them and navigate around them.

That's pretty much what every scene is about, getting people to see your point of view. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

To think justly, we must understand what others mean. To know the value of our thoughts, we must try their effect on other minds.

The biggest mistake you can make in trying to talk convincingly is to put your highest priority on expressing your ideas and feelings. What most people really want is to be listened to, respected, and understood. The moment people see that they are being understood, they become more motivated to understand your point of view.

Remember, it takes two to make an argument. The one who is wrong is the one who will be doing most of the talking.

When we wish to correct with advantage, and to show another that he errs, we must notice from what side he views the matter, for on that side it is usually true.

Examine other points of view as if they were your own.

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

I think often I learn the most from other people's mistakes. If I'm in the audience watching an actor and thinking, 'I don't believe you,' I spend the rest of the play working out why I don't believe them.

One of the other things I think that I've been able to do in my life, is to listen well.

At one time or another, we have all faced the temptation to disconnect by giving someone the silent treatment. After being married to Joel for more than twenty-one years, I have learned that is not the best way to handle a disagreement.

I decided to get to know my opponents and their arguments.

If I'm in a political argument, I think I can, with reasonable accuracy and without boasting, put the other person's side of the case at least as well as they could. One has to be able to say that in any well-conducted argument.

I've learned through experience of playing different characters, some of whom were jerks, that when you play a character who is pretentious or obnoxious, in any way, it's important to knock them down a peg.

Listening is more important than talking. Just hit your mark and believe what you say. Just listen to people and react to what they are saying.

I do believe that in order to be a successful negotiator that as a diplomat, you have to be able to put yourself into the other person's shoes. Unless you can understand what is motivating them, you are never going to be able to figure out how to solve a particular problem.

With guests who are 'in the middle of the fight,' we're able to hear their point-of-view on the topics, as well as advance our own feelings.

What the nation's built on is discussion, contradiction and growth, and at the moment you can't discuss anything. If you do start to discuss it, you get criticized. If people hate us, you have to find out why and try to solve that problem.

Listen to other people tell their story, but don't believe them. You know that it's just a story that is only true for them, but listen because the communication can be wonderful.

Lower your voice and strengthen your argument.

He who knows only his own side of the case, knows little of that.

Discussion: A method of confirming others in their errors