Wednesday, September 26, 2007

conversation

Few are agreeable in conversation, because each thinks more of what he intends to say than of what others are saying, and listens no more when he himself has a chance to speak.
Francois de La Rochefoucauld

I found this quote today and read a couple of times and thought-WOW is that true or what!
How many times have you been in conversation and thought(or said) if you would just listen to me before you answer! or have you listened at all to what I said! or better yet- why do I even talk they aren't listening anyway!
How about when asked "how are you"- does anyone ever listen to the answer? I have sometimes tested this one and said- terrible or sick or some other stupid word- people are too much on their own agenda or planet-
Sometimes when talking with a VERY vocal person- I will not say anything even when they are finished. Just to see if they will listen to me. I give them much time to finish AND sometimes even then they aren't finished. I will even say to some "are you finished, or can I speak now"
As pax would say are we listening to one hand clapping in the world!

2 comments:

pissed off patricia said...

With my first husband I used to say during a dust up, please listen to what I'm saying instead of planning what you are going to say to me.

Yep, divorced him and he never did listen.

Zelda Parker said...

I used to get that "yes dear" treatment and you know that no one is listening. Did they think they were fooling anyone? The only thing foolish is repeating yourself and taking responsibility for their non-receptiveness, or inability to listen.