Because there are hundreds of different ways to say one thing, I, being a writer, songwriter, and poet, speak childishly and incoherently. In speech there is so much to decide in so little time.

Take lightly what you hear about individuals. We need not distort trust for our paltry little political agendas. We tend to trust soulless, carried information more than we trust soulful human beings; but really most people aren't so bad once you sit down and have an honest, one-on-one conversation with them, once, with an open heart, you listen to their explanations as to why they act the way they act, or say what they say, or do what they do.

That is the happiest conversation where there is no competition, no vanity, but a calm quiet interchange of sentiments.

A civil guest Will no more talk all, than eat all the feast.

The soul of conversation is sympathy.

Most conversations are simply monologues delivered in the presence of a witness.

The fullest instruction, and the fullest enjoyment are never derived from books, till we have ventilated the ideas thus obtained in free and easy chat with others.

A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years' study of books.

It's not necessary to tell all you know.

If you wish to appear agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things you know already.

Show me the man who isn't interested in discussing himself.

It is a secret known but to 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.

What a strange scene if the surge of conversation could suddenly ebb like the tide, and show us the real state of people's minds.

Who speaks, sows; who keeps silence, reaps.

There is no such thing as conversation. It is an illusion. There are intersecting monologues, that is all.

The necessity of saying something, the embarrassment produced by the consciousness of having nothing to say, and the desire to exhibit ability, are three things sufficient to render even a great man ridiculous.

Too much agreement kills a chat.

The secret of success in conversation is to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

The best guide to conversation is to ask questions.

Conversation is the art of telling people a little less than they want to know.