Careful Communication Quotes

I will begin to speak when I have that to say which had not better be unsaid.

For words are magical formulae. They leave finger marks be hind on the brain, which in the twinkling of an eye become the footprints of history. One ought to watch one' s every word.

In politics, you're safest when you're saying as little as possible. You're safest when you've got your talking points and you stick to them like glue, even if it means repeating yourself over and over.

We don't know where the lines should be drawn. Which to me means that we people of goodwill have to bend over backwards to be scrupulous, to be exceedingly careful about code words, about messages, so as not to inflame the evil angels in our nature, if you will.

Attention is like a narrow mouthed vessel; pour into it what you have to say cautiously, and, as it were, drop by drop.

I'm more cautious about what I write.

Sometimes during a conversation with a journalist - where you are answering things you never normally talk about, not even with some of your closest friends - you end up being quite confessional, and you don't think about the amplification of that. No matter how fancy these journalists are, they have editors or political leanings behind their publications, which means that, basically, they're going to shape what you've said into an article they've already written. So you have to be really careful with your words.

When you're talking to the media, be a well, not a fountain.

Think before you speak. Read before you think.

You can't be too careful what you tell a child because you never know what he'll take hold of and spend the rest of his life remembering you by.

Better slip with foot than tongue.

You always have to be conscious of how your words can provide motivation to the opposition.

Thou weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath.