attentive response Quotes

When you want to hear a philosopher, do not say, 'You say nothing to me'; only show yourself worthy or fit to hear, and then you will see how you will move the speaker.

One of our urgent opportunities is to respond to a child when he earnestly asks, remembering that they don't always ask.

Listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be obtained in conversation.

To listen closely and reply well is the highest perfection we are able to attain in the art of conversation.

Your preschool child will chatter endlessly to you. If you half-listen and half-reply the whole conversation will seem, and become, tediously meaningless for both of you. but if you really listen and really answer, he will talk more and what he says will make more sense.

One thing which makes us find so few people who appear reasonable and agreeable in conversation is, that there is scarcely any one who does not think more of what he is about to say than of answering precisely what is said to him.

Listening is a reciprocal process - we become more attentive to others if they have attended to us.

Gary Cooper - the greatest listener in the world! And he used to answer in kind, which is wonderful because you don't see that anymore. People don't listen. They really don't.