Tag Archives: quote-ables

‘Stellar’ Wisdom

By Phil Stella | Published: August 3, 2017

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. Read More »

20th Century Treasures

By Phil Stella | Published: July 3, 2017

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 the person who keeps his mouth shut.’ Robert Benchley (1889 – 1945), American humorist, columnist and film actor.

‘Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters.’ Sam Rayburn (1882 – 1961), American politician and longest-serving Speaker of the House of Representatives.


 

Everything Old Is New Again

By Phil Stella | Published: June 6, 2017

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 deeds. – Pindar, (522 BC – 443BC) Greek lyric poet.

The Art of Conversation

By Phil Stella | Published: March 1, 2017

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 with the intent to understand. They listen with the intent to reply.’ – Stephen Covey, educator, author and motivational speaker.

‘The mark of a good conversationalist is not that you can talk a lot. The mark is that you can get others to talk a lot. Thus, good schmoozers are good listeners, not good talkers.’ – Guy Kawasaki, marketing expert, author and Silicon Valley venture capitalist.

Many people may listen, but few people actually hear. – Harvey Mackay, author, business owner and speaker.

 

 

 

The Ancients Valued Silence

By Phil Stella | Published: September 6, 2016

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 man to heed. Pindar, (522 BC – 443BC), Greek lyric poet

Our ancestors valued silence. Shouldn’t we?

And You Can Quote … Me!

By Phil Stella | Published: August 1, 2016

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: Read More »

What can we learn about communication from the Ancients?

By Phil Stella | Published: July 3, 2016

‘First learn the meaning of what you say and then speak.’
Epictetus (AD 55 – 135), Greek philosopher and teacher Read More »

I Get Teamwork

By Phil Stella | Published: June 1, 2016

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 is no ‘I’ in ‘team’, but there is an ‘eat’. So, make sure you have good food at every meeting.’

‘A camel is a horse designed by a team. A giraffe is a horse designed by a cross-functional team. A rhino is a horse designed by a self-directed team. And an elephant is a horse designed by a team led by the boss.’

Hope you liked them, too.

And now, you can quote me. – Phil Stella, contemporary entrepreneur, workplace communication expert, executive coach and author.

Abe Gets It

By Phil Stella | Published: May 4, 2016

‘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

By Phil Stella | Published: April 5, 2016

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 speech.’ – Naomi Watts, ‘The Painted Vail’, 2006.

‘Constantly talking isn’t necessarily communicating.’ – Jim Carrey, ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, 2004.

‘Don’t use seven words when one will do.’ – Brad Pitt, ‘Ocean’s Eleven’, 2001.

That’s a wrap …