# Quotes about listening - Quotes: 37 - Authors: 25 - Broader topic: [Quotes about conversation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conversation.md) - Topic page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening - JSON version (same data): https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.json ## Quotes > The written word has taught me to listen to the human voice, much as the great unchanging statues have taught me to appreciate bodily motions. [Marguerite Yourcenar](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marguerite-yourcenar.md) · [Memoirs of Hadrian](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marguerite-yourcenar/memoirs-of-hadrian.md) · p. 21 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/marguerite-yourcenar/memoirs-of-hadrian/the-written-word.md) Topics: [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Fools talk, cowards are silent, wise men listen. [Carlos Ruiz Zafón](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carlos-ruiz-zafon.md) · [La Sombra del Viento](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carlos-ruiz-zafon/la-sombra-del-viento.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/carlos-ruiz-zafon/la-sombra-del-viento/fools-talk-cowards.md) Topics: [wisdom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/wisdom.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > We all be speaking different because we all are having different growing-up life, but we can all be understanding each other if we just take the time to listen well. [Abi Dare](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abi-dare.md) · [The Girl with the Louding Voice](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abi-dare/the-girl-with-the-louding-voice.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/abi-dare/the-girl-with-the-louding-voice/we-all-be-speaking.md) Topics: [empathy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/empathy.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > It may be hard to just listen without offering advice as people share their problems, but this is often the best support we can give. [Nedra Glover Tawwab](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nedra-glover-tawwab.md) · [Set Boundaries, Find Peace](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nedra-glover-tawwab/set-boundaries-find-peace.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/nedra-glover-tawwab/set-boundaries-find-peace/it-may-be-hard.md) Topics: [helping others](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/helping-others.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Paying attention acknowledges that we have something to learn from intelligences other than our own. Listening, standing witness, creates an openness to the world in which the boundaries between us can dissolve in a raindrop. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 300 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/paying-attention-acknowledges.md) Topics: [attention](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/attention.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Experiments are not about discovery but about listening and translating the knowledge of other beings. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 158 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/experiments-are-not.md) Topics: [science](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/science.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > If you ask permission, you have to listen to the answer. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 176 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/if-you-ask.md) Topics: [respect](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/respect.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > To be heard, you must speak the language of the one you want to listen. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 158 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/to-be-heard.md) Topics: [language](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/language.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Listening in wild places, we are audience to conversations in a language not our own. [Robin Wall Kimmerer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer.md) · [Braiding Sweetgrass](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass.md) · p. 48 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robin-wall-kimmerer/braiding-sweetgrass/listening-in-wild.md) Topics: [nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/nature.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > A part of the art of ruling, I suppose, is to know when to shut your ears. [Hilary Mantel](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hilary-mantel.md) · [Wolf Hall](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hilary-mantel/wolf-hall.md) · p. 179 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/hilary-mantel/wolf-hall/a-part-of-the.md) Topics: [power](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/power.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > However, it is well known that most people don't listen. They use the time when someone else is speaking to think of what they're going to say next. [Terry Pratchett](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett.md) · [Pyramids](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/pyramids.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/terry-pratchett/pyramids/however-it-is-well.md) Topics: [conversation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conversation.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > If you're only pointing to your own stuff online, you're doing it wrong. [...] If you want to get, you have to give. If you want to be noticed, you have to notice. Shut up and listen once in a while. [Austin Kleon](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-kleon.md) · [Show Your Work!](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-kleon/show-your-work.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/austin-kleon/show-your-work/if-youre-only.md) Topics: [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md), [generosity](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/generosity.md) > He talked, and listened, and tried to do the hardest thing of all. > > He tried to understand. [Chad Oliver](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chad-oliver.md) · [The Winds of Time](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chad-oliver/the-winds-of-time.md) · p. 27 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/chad-oliver/the-winds-of-time/he-talked-and.md) Topics: [empathy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/empathy.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > When your conversation partner is getting angry, the single best thing you can do in most circumstances is to stop whatever else you're doing and listen. It's very difficult to remain angry with someone who is patiently and earnestly listening, and if you break the cycle of frustrating dialogue early by switching to listening and learning, you can halt a great deal of your partner's mounting anger before it starts. [Peter Boghossian](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-boghossian.md) · [How to Have Impossible Conversations](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-boghossian/how-to-have-impossible-conversations.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-boghossian/how-to-have-impossible-conversations/when-your-conversation.md) Topics: [anger](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/anger.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Most basic elements of civil discussion, especially over matters of substantive disagreement, come down to a single theme: making the other person in a conversation a partner, not an adversary. To accomplish this, you need to understand what you want from the conversation, make charitable assumptions about others' intentions, listen, and seek back-and-forth interaction (as opposed to delivering a message). [Peter Boghossian](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-boghossian.md) · [How to Have Impossible Conversations](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-boghossian/how-to-have-impossible-conversations.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/peter-boghossian/how-to-have-impossible-conversations/most-basic-elements.md) Topics: [conversation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conversation.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > So he always kept his mouth shut. He kept his ears open and listened closely to whatever anyone else had to say, aiming to learn something from everything he heard. This habit eventually became a useful tool. Through this, he discovered a number of important realities, including this one: most people in the world don’t really use their brains to think. And people who don’t think are the ones who don’t listen to others. [Haruki Murakami](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami.md) · [1Q84](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/1q84.md) · p. 868 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/haruki-murakami/1q84/so-he-always.md) Topics: [thinking](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/thinking.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > You cannot talk to people successfully if they think you are not interested in what they have to say or you have no respect for them. [Larry King](https://www.leafyquotes.com/larry-king.md) · [How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere](https://www.leafyquotes.com/larry-king/how-to-talk-to-anyone-anytime-anywhere.md) · p. 28 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/larry-king/how-to-talk-to-anyone-anytime-anywhere/you-cannot-talk.md) Topics: [conversation](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/conversation.md), [respect](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/respect.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Most people don't know how to listen because the major part of their attention is taken up by thinking. They pay more attention to that than to what the other person is saying [Eckhart Tolle](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle.md) · [The Power of Now](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/the-power-of-now.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/eckhart-tolle/the-power-of-now/most-people-dont.md) Topics: [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Whatever life we have experienced, if we can tell our story to someone who listens, we find it easier to deal with our circumstances. [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://www.leafyquotes.com/margaret-j-wheatley.md) · [Turning to One Another](https://www.leafyquotes.com/margaret-j-wheatley/turning-to-one-another.md) · p. 92 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/margaret-j-wheatley/turning-to-one-another/whatever-life-we-have.md) Topics: [stories](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/stories.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > We will need to become savvy about how to build relationships, how to nurture growing, evolving things. All of us will need better skills in listening, communicating, and facilitating groups, because these are the talents that build strong relationships. [Margaret J. Wheatley](https://www.leafyquotes.com/margaret-j-wheatley.md) · [Leadership and the New Science](https://www.leafyquotes.com/margaret-j-wheatley/leadership-and-the-new-science.md) · p. 38 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/margaret-j-wheatley/leadership-and-the-new-science/we-will-need.md) Topics: [relationships](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/relationships.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > The first step, then, is the most important: to realize you have a remarkable social tool that you are not cultivating. The best way to see this is to try it out. Stop your incessant interior monologue and pay deeper attention to people. Attune yourself to the shifting moods of individuals and the group. Get a read on each person’s particular psychology and what motivates them. Try to take their perspective, enter their world and value system. You will suddenly become aware of an entire world of nonverbal behavior you never knew existed, as if your eyes could now suddenly see ultraviolet light. Once you sense this power, you will feel its importance and awaken to new social possibilities. [Robert Greene](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene.md) · [The Laws of Human Nature](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/robert-greene/the-laws-of-human-nature/the-first-step.md) Topics: [empathy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/empathy.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > I watched the gorilla’s eyes again, wise and knowing eyes, and wondered about this business of trying to teach apes language. Our language. Why? There are many members of our own species who live in and with the forest and know it and understand it. We don’t listen to them. What is there to suggest we would listen to anything an ape could tell us? Or that it would be able to tell us of its life in a language that hasn’t been born of that life? I thought, maybe it is not that they have yet to gain a language, it is that we have lost one. [Douglas Adams](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams.md) · [Last Chance to See](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/last-chance-to-see.md) · p. 82 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/douglas-adams/last-chance-to-see/i-watched-the.md) Topics: [animals](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/animals.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Mauthen ain’t much for listenen. Nothin’ plugs a man’s ears like money. [Patrick Rothfuss](https://www.leafyquotes.com/patrick-rothfuss.md) · [The Name of the Wind](https://www.leafyquotes.com/patrick-rothfuss/the-name-of-the-wind.md) · p. 580 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/patrick-rothfuss/the-name-of-the-wind/mauthen-aint-much.md) Topics: [money](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/money.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Too few people listened to anything other than their own thoughts. [Brandon Sanderson](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson.md) · [Edgedancer](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/edgedancer.md) · p. 250 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/brandon-sanderson/edgedancer/too-few-people.md) Topics: [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Schools currently excel in encouraging children to express opinions, but are deficient in encouraging children to say, for example, “Oh, that’s different from my perspective – tell me more.” [Warren Farrell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell.md) · [Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say.md) · p. 36 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say/schools-currently-excel.md) Topics: [education](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/education.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Listening is self-empowerment via the empowerment of others. [Warren Farrell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell.md) · [Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say/listening-is-self-empowerment.md) Topics: [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Killing the criticizer, then, is part of our evolutionary past; listening in response to criticism is part of our evolutionary future. [Warren Farrell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell.md) · [Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say.md) · p. 41 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say/killing-the-criticizer.md) Topics: [evolution](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/evolution.md), [criticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/criticism.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Teaching children to debate without teaching children to listen is divorce training. [Warren Farrell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell.md) · [Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say.md) · p. 36 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say/teaching-children-to-debate.md) Topics: [upbringing](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/upbringing.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md), [divorce](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/divorce.md) > Listening in response to criticism mandates a shift in our internal psyche that marks perhaps the most important single evolutionary shift humans can make. [Warren Farrell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell.md) · [Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say.md) · p. 41 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say/listening-in-response.md) Topics: [criticism](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/criticism.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Humans have spent (10k+) years learning to fight and debate with the other side, and almost no time learning to listen and empathize. [Warren Farrell](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell.md) · [Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say.md) · p. 18 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/warren-farrell/women-cant-hear-what-men-dont-say/humans-have-spent.md) Topics: [empathy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/empathy.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > "Nobody ever listened to me until they didn't know who I was." [Banksy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/banksy.md) · [Wall and Piece](https://www.leafyquotes.com/banksy/wall-and-piece.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/banksy/wall-and-piece/nobody-ever-listened.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > “I was always willing to help you,” she replied, “as you would have known if you had stopped accusing me and listened.” [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Marianne, the Magus and the Manticore](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/marianne-the-magus-and-the-manticore.md) · p. 171 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/marianne-the-magus-and-the-manticore/i-was-always.md) Topics: [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > “Sometimes I despair, Ellat. Will I ever be able to surprise you?” > > “Yes. If you’d listen to me, ever, it would surprise me enormously.” [Sheri S. Tepper](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper.md) · [Marianne, the Madame, and the Momentary Gods](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/marianne-the-madame-and-the-momentary-gods.md) · p. 137 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/sheri-s-tepper/marianne-the-madame-and-the-momentary-gods/sometimes-i-despair.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > To listen to someone is to put oneself in his place while he is speaking. To put oneself in the place of someone whose soul is corroded by affliction, or in near danger of it, is to annihilate oneself. It is more difficult than suicide would be for a happy child. Therefore the afflicted are not listened to. They are like someone whose tongue has been cut out and who occasionally forgets the fact. When they move their lips no ear perceives any sound. And they themselves soon sink into impotence in the use of language, because of the certainty of not being heard. > > That is why there is no hope for the vagrant as he stands before the magistrate. Even if, through his stammerings, he should utter a cry to pierce the soul, neither the magistrate nor the public will hear it. His cry is mute. And the afflicted are nearly always equally deaf to one another; and each of them, constrained by the general indifference, strives by means of self-delusion or forgetfulness to become deaf to his own self. [Simone Weil](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil.md) · [Simone Weil: An Anthology](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil/simone-weil-an-anthology.md) · p. 71 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/simone-weil/simone-weil-an-anthology/to-listen-to-someone.md) Topics: [suffering](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/suffering.md), [empathy](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/empathy.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > "The little folk dare anything", said his friend. "And they talks a lot of nonsense. But they talks an awful lot of sense, as well. You listen to 'em at your peril, and you ignore 'em at your peril, too". [Neil Gaiman](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman.md) · [Stardust](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman/stardust.md) — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/neil-gaiman/stardust/the-little-folk-dare.md) Topics: [wisdom](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/wisdom.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > I can't seem to fathom that the things important to me are not important to other people as well, and so I come off sounding like a missionary, someone whose job it is to convert rather than listen. [David Sedaris](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris.md) · [Dress Your Family In Corduroy And Denim](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/dress-your-family-in-corduroy-and-denim.md) · p. 203 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/david-sedaris/dress-your-family-in-corduroy-and-denim/i-cant-seem.md) Topics: [selfishness](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/selfishness.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md) > Tritt listened placidly, clearly understanding nothing, but content to be listening; while Odeen, transmitting nothing, was as clearly content to be lecturing. [Isaac Asimov](https://www.leafyquotes.com/isaac-asimov.md) · [The Gods Themselves](https://www.leafyquotes.com/isaac-asimov/the-gods-themselves.md) · p. 82 — [Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/isaac-asimov/the-gods-themselves/tritt-listened-placidly.md) Topics: [humor](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/humor.md), [listening](https://www.leafyquotes.com/topics/listening.md)