I am too weary to listen, too angry to hear.
Daniel Bell (1919-2011) American sociologist, writer, editor, academic
“First Love and Early Sorrows,” Partisan Review (Dec 1981)
(Source)
Quotations about:
listen
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
Not everyone is worth listening to.
Alain de Botton (b. 1969) Swiss-British author
The Consolations of Philosophy, ch. 1 “Consolation For Unpopularity” (2000)
(Source)
Every man hears only what he understands.
[Es hört doch jeder nur, was er versteht.]
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) German poet, statesman, scientist
Sprüche in Prosa: Maximen und Reflexionen [Proverbs in Prose: Maxims and Reflections] (1833) [tr. Saunders (1893), “Life and Character,” #383]
(Source)
Posthumous, on "Literature and Life." (Source (German)). Alternate translations:A man hears only that which he understands.
[tr. Rönnfeldt (1900)]For surely everyone only hears what he understands.
[tr. Stopp (1995), "Posthumous," #887]
ARTHUR: You know, it’s at times like this, when I’m trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to die of asphyxiation in deep space that I really wish I’d listened to what my mother told me when I was young.
FORD: Why, what did she tell you?
ARTHUR: I don’t know, I didn’t listen.
Douglas Adams (1952-2001) English author, humourist, screenwriter
Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Phase 1, “Fit the 2nd” (BBC Radio) (1978-03-15)
(Source)
Adapted into book form in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy No. 1, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, ch. 7 (1979), with identical dialog. The only difference between the two is that after these lines, in the radio play Ford replies, "Huh! Terrific," while in the book he says, "Oh," and carries on humming.
Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
Winston Churchill (1874-1965) British statesman and author
(Spurious)
(Source)
Not found in Churchill's works.
If you don’t know what to do, sit still and listen. You may hear something.
Carl Sandburg (1878-1967) American poet, biographer
Incidentals (1900)
To listen closely and reply well is the highest perfection we are able to attain in the art of conversation.
François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Maxims] (1665-1678)
HORATIO: Season your admiration for a while
With an attent ear, till I may deliver
Upon the witness of these gentlemen
This marvel to you.William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet
Hamlet, Act 1, sc. 1, l. 201ff (1.1.201-204) (c. 1600)
(Source)
Remember this, my dear brothers: be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to rouse your temper; God’s righteousness is never served by man’s anger.
[Ἴστε ἀδελφοί μου ἀγαπητοί ἔστω δὲ πᾶς ἄνθρωπος ταχὺς εἰς τὸ ἀκοῦσαι βραδὺς εἰς τὸ λαλῆσαι βραδὺς εἰς ὀργήν ὀργὴ γὰρ ἀνδρὸς δικαιοσύνην Θεοῦ οὐκ ἐργάζεται.]
The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
James 1:19-20 [JB (1966)]
(Source)
(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
[KJV (1611)]Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. Human anger does not achieve God's righteous purpose.
[GNT (1976)]Remember this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to listen but slow to speak and slow to human anger; God's saving justice is never served by human anger.
[NJB (1985); 1:19-20]Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. 20 This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness.
[CEB (2011)]You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger, for human anger does not produce God’s righteousness.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]
