WIST Quotations

Bible, Vol. 1. Old Testament -- Book 20. Proverbs 18:13 (Prov 18:13) [tr. RJPS (2023 ed.)]

Dave — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:15:50 +0000

To answer before listening —
This is foolish and disgraceful.

מֵשִׁ֣יב דָּ֭בָר בְּטֶ֣רֶם יִשְׁמָ֑ע אִוֶּ֥לֶת הִיא־ל֝֗וֹ וּכְלִמָּֽה׃

The Bible (The Old Testament) (14th - 2nd C BC) Judeo-Christian sacred scripture [Tanakh, Hebrew Bible], incl. the Apocrypha (Deuterocanonicals)
Book 20. Proverbs 18:13 (Prov 18:13) [tr. RJPS (2023 ed.)]
(Source)

See La Rochefoucauld (1665).

(Source (Greek)). Other translations:

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it,
it is folly and shame unto him.
[KJV (1611)]

To retort without first listening is folly to work one's own confusion.
[JB (1966)]

To retort without first listening is both foolish and embarrassing.
[NJB (1985)]

Listen before you answer. If you don't, you are being stupid and insulting.
[GNT (1992 ed.)]

Those who answer before they listen
are foolish and disgraceful.
[CEB (2011)]

If one gives answer before hearing,
it is folly and shame.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld Series No. 24, The Fifth Elephant (1999)

Dave — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 20:42:06 +0000

Sam Vimes could parallel process. Most husbands can. They learn to follow their own line of thought while at the same time listening to what their wives say. And the listening is important, because at any time they could be challenged and must be ready to quote the last sentence in full. A vital additional skill is being able to scan the dialogue for telltale phrases such as “and they can deliver it tomorrow” or “so I’ve invited them for dinner” or “they can do it in blue, really quite cheaply.”

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) English author
Discworld Series No. 24, The Fifth Elephant (1999)
(Source)

Smith, Sydney -- Essay (1843-07), “Parisian Morals and Manners,” Edinburgh Review No. 157, Art. 5

Dave — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 15:07:55 +0000

Dean Swift’s rule is as good for women as for men — never to talk above a half minute without pausing, and giving others an opportunity to strike in.

Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English clergyman, essayist, wit
Essay (1843-07), “Parisian Morals and Manners,” Edinburgh Review No. 157, Art. 5
(Source)

See Swift.

Colton, Charles Caleb -- Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 13 (1820)

Dave — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:11:10 +0000

Were we as eloquent as angels, yet should we please some men, some women, and some children much more by listening than by talking.

Charles Caleb "C. C." Colton (1780–1832) English cleric, writer, aphorist
Lacon: Or, Many Things in Few Words, Vol. 1, § 13 (1820)
(Source)

Swift, Jonathan -- “An Epistle to a Lady Who Desired the Author to Write Some Verses Upon Her in the Heroic Style,” ll. 123-132 (1732)

Dave — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 20:33:24 +0000

Conversation is but carving;
Carve for all, yourself is starving:
Give no more to every Guest,
Than he’s able to digest;
Give him always of the Prime;
And but little at a Time.
Carve to all but just enough:
Let them neither starve nor stuff:
And, that you may have your Due,
Let your Neighbours carve for you.

Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) English writer and churchman
“An Epistle to a Lady Who Desired the Author to Write Some Verses Upon Her in the Heroic Style,” ll. 123-132 (1732)
(Source)

Often rendered with the first line ending in an exclamation point, and the second line missing.

Clement of Alexandria -- “To the Newly Baptized / Exhortation to Endurance” [tr. Butterworth]

Dave — Fri, 13 May 2022 14:09:03 +0000

Take care never to speak what you have not weighed and pondered beforehand; nor interject your own words on the spur of the moment and in the midst of another’s; for you must listen and converse in turn, with set times for speech and for silence.

Clement of Alexandria (c. AD 150 - c. 215 ) Christian theologian, philosopher, Church Father [Κλήμης ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς, Titus Flavius Clemens]
“To the Newly Baptized / Exhortation to Endurance” [tr. Butterworth]
(Source)

Cicero, Marcus Tullius -- Tusculan Disputations [Tusculanae Disputationes], Book 5, ch. 40 (5.40) / sec. 117 (45 BC) [tr. Peabody (1886)]

Dave — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 19:06:28 +0000

It must be remembered also that he who can talk with himself has no need of another’s conversation.

[Etinim, qui secum loqui poterit, sermonem alterius non requiret.]

Marcus Tullius Cicero (106–43 BC) Roman orator, statesman, philosopher
Tusculan Disputations [Tusculanae Disputationes], Book 5, ch. 40 (5.40) / sec. 117 (45 BC) [tr. Peabody (1886)]
(Source)

(Source (Latin)). Other translations:

For he that can speak with himself; will not much need the Discourse of another.
[tr. Wase (1643)]

Whoever can converse with himself doth not need the conversation of another.
[tr. Main (1824)]

For the man who can speak with himself, does not require the discourse of another.
[tr. Otis (1839)]

Whoever can converse with himself doth not need the conversation of another.
[tr. Yonge (1853)]

One who can converse with himself will not miss the conversation of someone else.
[tr. Douglas (1990)]

He who can talk to himself, will have no need of another’s conversation.
[tr. @sentantiq (2012)]

A man who is able to hold conversation with himself will not need another with whom to converse.
[tr. Davie (2017)]

West, Rebecca -- “There Is No Conversation,” The Saturday Evening Post (1928-12-08)

Dave — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 14:48:36 +0000

There is no such thing as conversation. It is an illusion. There are intersecting monologues, that is all. We speak; we spread round us with sounds, with words, an emanation from ourselves. Sometimes they overlap the circles that others are spreading round themselves. Then they are affected by these other circles, to be sure, but not because of any real communication that has taken place — merely as a scarf of blue chiffon lying on a woman’s dressing table will change color if she casts down on it a scarf of red chiffon.

Rebecca West (1892–1983) British author, journalist, literary critic, travel writer [pseud. for Cicily Isabel Fairfield]
“There Is No Conversation,” The Saturday Evening Post (1928-12-08)
(Source)

In the initial magazine appearance, the third sentence read, "There are interesting monologues." When reprinted in The Harsh Voice: Four Short Novels (1935), and subsequently, interesting was replaced with intersecting.

More discussion about this quotation: There Is No Such Thing as Conversation. It Is an Illusion. There Are Intersecting Monologues, That Is All – Quote Investigator®.

Lapham, Lewis H. -- “The Art of Editing No. 4,” The Paris Review (Summer 2019)

Dave — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 20:44:35 +0000

That’s what history is. It’s a conversation between the past and the present.

Lewis H. Lapham (b. 1935) American writer and editor
“The Art of Editing No. 4,” The Paris Review (Summer 2019)
(Source)

Butcher, Jim -- Changes (2010)

Dave — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 12:26:35 +0000

“Ack!” I said. Fearless master of the witty dialogue, that’s me.

Jim Butcher (b. 1971) American author
Changes (2010)

Steele, Richard -- Essay (1711-04-26), The Spectator, No. 49

Dave — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:31:43 +0000

It is a Secret known but to a few, yet of no small use in the Conduct of Life, that when you fall into a Man’s Conversation, the first thing you should consider is, whether he has a greater Inclination to hear you, or that you should hear him.

Richard Steele (1672–1729) Anglo-Irish writer, journalist, playwright, politician
Essay (1711-04-26), The Spectator, No. 49
(Source)

Ivins, Molly -- “Election Denial” (3 Apr. 2001)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

The single most dangerous thing you can do in politics is shut off information from people who don’t agree with you. Surround yourself with sycophants, listen only to the yea-sayers … then stick a fork in it, you’re done.

Molly Ivins (1944–2007) American writer, political columnist [Mary Tyler Ivins]
“Election Denial” (3 Apr. 2001)

Martin, Judith -- “Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1979-09-01)

Dave — Sun, 01 Feb 2004 16:00:00 +0000

Let us make a special effort to learn to stop communicating with each other, so that we can have some conversation.

Judith Martin (b. 1938) American author, journalist, etiquette expert [a.k.a. Miss Manners]
“Miss Manners,” syndicated column (1979-09-01)

Reprinted in Miss Manners' Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior, Part 3 "Basic Civilization," "Social Intercourse" (1983).

Sometimes misattributed to Mark Twain. Often paraphrased (e.g., "Let us make a special effort to stop communicating with each other, so we can have some conversation").

More discussion of this quotation: Let Us Make a Special Effort to Stop Communicating with Each Other, So We Can Have Some Conversation – Quote Investigator®