Respectful Conversation Quotes

If you want to know how to make people shun you and laugh at you behind your back and even despise you, here is the recipe: Never listen to anyone for long. Talk incessantly about yourself. If you have an idea while the other person is talking, don't wait for him or her to finish: bust right in and interrupt in the middle of a sentence.

Listen with the intent to understand, not the intent to reply.

It is inappropriate to discuss matters of business, pleasure or current events in the temple.

I try to limit my time with Michael Davies to as little as possible per week, and he is pretty good with that, since he has a bazillion things to do. When I do see him, I try not to talk about dental work or anything like that because I know the Brits get very sensitive.

You need to talk to people, and you need to hear what it is they have to say.

Stay out of the gutter in your conversation. Foul talk defiles the man who speaks it... Don't swear. Don't profane. Avoid so-called dirty jokes. Stay away from conversation that is sprinkled with foul and filthy words. You will be happier if you do so, and your example will give strength to others.

The Indians , whom we call barbarous, observe much more decency and civility in their discourses and conversation, giving one another a fair silent hearing till they have quite done; and then answering them calmly, and without noise or passion. And if it be not so in this civiliz'd part of the world, we must impute it to a neglect in education, which has not yet reform'd this antient piece of barbarity amongst us.

Don't take up a man's time talking about the smartness of your children; he wants to talk to you about the smartness of his children.

I was very privileged to enjoy The Queen Mother's company on many occasions. She was relaxed and informal - she would just sit down for a chat.

I enjoy repartee and frequently engage in devil's advocacy. In short, when I talk to friends, I do not guard every word that I say because I think that I know they know that my commitment to equality and justice is real, and they would not twist my words or misinterpret what I am saying to them.

What do you say to your sister who poses in the nude? It's not like you are really itching to see photographs of your sister naked. I mean, it's just something that is not too exciting.

Know how to behave at a fine restaurant, which is a telltale measure of social maturity.

I like to discuss things. I am open: I like to discuss with liberals better than I do with conservatives.

Speaking about my children is off limits.

it’s important to make sure that we’re talking with each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds." - Barack Obama, 44th U.S. President

I am perfectly capable of writing things about myself that one doesn't discuss in polite company, but I was raised by people who said you don't discuss politics, you don't discuss religion, and you certainly don't discuss people's sex lives.

I don't ever cross the line. I step right up to it. I put my toes on the line, but I don't ever cross that line. There are some barriers you just don't cross - you don't talk about religion; you don't talk about race. Those are lines I will never cross.

There are men who talk of women and others who talk to them. I don’t talk of them, I prefer talking to them

If you can speak about what you care about to a person you disagree with without denigrating them or insulting them, then you may actually be heard.

When you speak, ask questions. Don't lecture.

I’m not being weird, you’re being a little rude. Don’t you think as a host, when I say ‘this is what I want to talk about’ that’s what we should address?

Sitting down for dinner not only helps you learn, but also teaches you how to listen - which I feel is the most important skill to have. I remember as a kid going around the table listening to everyone's day. It was hard to have the manners not to interrupt back then.

Never talk for half a minute without pausing and giving others a chance to join in.

Just listening and going back and forth and exchanging ideas with people. It's a beautiful thing. This is what's really important.

I've always told my children that Americans will tell you pretty much anything, but that convention dictates that we don't like to talk money or politics.