Readers generally like ‘Quote-ables’ – the pearls of wisdom about communication I share from past generations, famous people and business leaders. But recently, a reader indicated she was also interested in what contemporary communication practitioners … like me … had to say based on our everyday experience.
quote-ables
20th Century Treasures
We can learn a lot about communicating from those who lived and worked in the 20th century. ‘The great thing about human language is that it prevents us from sticking to the matter at hand.’ John Maynard Keynes (1883 – 1946), British author and influential economist. ‘No one has a finer command of language than … Read more
Everything Old Is New Again
What can we learn from the ancients about contemporary communication challenges? Lots! By words the mind is winged. – Aristophanes, (450 BC – 388 BC) Greek playwright. An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes. – Cato the Elder (234 BC -149 BC) Roman senator and historian. Words have a longer life than … Read more
The Art of Conversation
Let’s see what some contemporary American experts think about the Art of Conversation: ‘You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.’ – Dale Carnegie, writer, lecturer and self-improvement expert. ‘Most people do not listen … Read more
The Ancients Valued Silence
Keep silent for the most part, speak only when you must, and then briefly. Epictetus (AD 55 – 135), Greek philosopher and teacher He is nearest to the gods who knows how to be silent. Cato the Elder (234 BC – 149 BC), Roman senator and historian Often silence is the wisest thing for a … Read more
And You Can Quote … Me!
I’m thrilled with your response to my latest installment of ‘Quote-ables’ – comments I’ve made for a reporter’s article on workplace communication. Here are a few more gems you might hear often in one of my workshops:
What can we learn about communication from the Ancients?
‘First learn the meaning of what you say and then speak.’
Epictetus (AD 55 – 135), Greek philosopher and teacher
I Get Teamwork
Business publication reporters regularly contact me for comments or input in my narrow-but-deep niches of expertise. Recently, someone asked for some original quotes about teamwork. Hope he liked them: ‘There is no ‘I’ in ‘team’, but there is a ‘me’. So make me feel welcome, valued and important if I’m on your team.’ ‘There … Read more
Abe Gets It
‘The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine.’ — Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865, 16th President of the United States
More Learning from the Movies
Last month’s piece about communication-related quotes from the movies generated some buzz and request for more. So … Lights … Camera … Action!’ Knowledge speaks; wisdom listens.’ – Andre Benjamin, ‘Jimi: All is By My side’, 2013. ‘If people only spoke when they had something to say, the human race would lose the power of … Read more