Talking, it seemed to me, was the point of adult existence.

The issues a president faces are not black and white, and cannot be boiled down into 140 characters. Because when you have the nuclear codes at your fingertips and the military at your command, you can’t make snap decisions. You can’t have a thin skin or the tendency to lash out.

I hate talking about music, to tell you the truth.

The short words are best, and the old words are the best of all.

He who talks more is sooner exhausted.

Our diplomacy and development budget is not just about reducing spending and finding efficiencies. We need a frank conversation about what we stand for as that ‚shining city on a hill.‘ And that conversation begins by acknowledging that we can’t do it on the cheap.

As soon as I arrived in the Indies, in the first island which I found, I took some of the natives by force, in order that they might learn and might give me information of whatever there is in these parts. And so it was that they soon understood us, and we them, either by speech or by signs, and they have been very serviceable.

The major advances in speed of communication and ability to interact took place more than a century ago. The shift from sailing ships to telegraph was far more radical than that from telephone to email!

We are symbols, and inhabit symbols.

If you’re yelling you’re the one who’s lost control of the conversation.

I’ve had moments when I’ve thought about somebody, picked up the phone to call them and they are on the line already, and I think that maybe there’s some vibration, some connection.

He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander.

What women need to understand is that men don’t communicate. It’s not intentional or on purpose. We’re just not as emotional. You ladies feel like you have to express yourselves.

Words do not express thoughts very well. They always become a little different immediately after they are expressed, a little distorted, a little foolish.

He must be very ignorant for he answers every question he is asked.

The problem with having a sense of humor is often that people you use it on aren’t in a very good mood.

How to drive a guy crazy: send him a telegram and on the top put ‚page 2.‘

It’s a very good question, very direct, and I’m not going to answer it.

I prefer tongue-tied knowledge to ignorant loquacity.

Words are loaded pistols.

Both times I was in India, I could not get people to listen to each other. I had to literally tell people to listen to each other and tell them that they can’t get creative and find alternate solutions if they don’t listen to each other. There’s a lot of arguing and justifying.

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.

If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk.

I very much believe the Internet is indeed all it is cracked up to be.

We build too many walls and not enough bridges.

I’m terrified of losing my voice.

I was also a junior and I know how you learn from seniors, that’s how you follow. Speeches don’t work.

To be clear: we have fights and problems like any other couple.

It’s a rather rude gesture, but at least it’s clear what you mean.

A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don’t have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed.

Forgive me my nonsense, as I also forgive the nonsense of those that think they talk sense.

Arguments are to be avoided: they are always vulgar and often convincing.

There is always another way to say the same thing that doesn’t look at all like the way you said it before. I don’t know what the reason for this is. I think it is somehow a representation of the simplicity of nature.

To me, constructive criticism is when people take ownership of their ideas. That’s why I don’t listen to anything that’s anonymous. But it’s hard; when there’s something hurtful out there, I still want to read it over and over and memorize it and explain my point of view to the person.

We cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at one another – until we speak quietly enough so that our words can be heard as well as our voices.

When people are connected, we can just do some great things. They have the opportunity to get access to jobs, education, health, communications. We have the opportunity to bring the people we care about closer to us. It really makes a big difference.

Sometimes when you take strong stands, if you’re not called to do it, you’re dividing the audience you’re trying to reach.

I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we’re really talking about peace.

We live in an image society. Speeches are not what anybody cares about; what they care about is the picture.

Such a chimerical idea as telegraphing vocal sounds would indeed, to most minds, seem scarcely feasible enough to spend time in working over. I believe, however, that it is feasible and that I have got the cue to the solution of the problem.

It’s considered acceptable in our culture to approach perfect strangers, as often or not who may be in extremis, and evangelise. I don’t see why that’s considered a normal thing.

A quarrel is quickly settled when deserted by one party; there is no battle unless there be two.

Good humor is one of the best articles of dress one can wear in society.

Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.

Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, be fortified by it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.

I don’t need therapy. I’m not going to see a therapist; comedy acts as my therapy. I put my problems out there. I talk about them. I talk about everything before anybody has a chance.

A woman will doubt everything you say except it be compliments to herself.

All of the books in the world contain no more information than is broadcast as video in a single large American city in a single year. Not all bits have equal value.

Writing and cookery are just two different means of communication.

If you want to influence people, you want them to accept your suggestions, you don’t say, ‚You don’t know how to use the English language,‘ or ‚How could you make that argument?‘ It will be welcomed much more if you have a gentle touch than if you are aggressive.

I don’t have any oratory skills. But I would not use them if I had.

Tact is the ability to describe others as they see themselves.

There, in the chords and melodies, is everything I want to say. The words just jolly it along. It’s always been my way of expressing what, for me, is inexpressible by any other means.

Well, the thing that I learned as a diplomat is that human relations ultimately make a huge difference.

What I have never been afraid of is to be a little silly, and you can engage people that way. My view is, first you get them to laugh, then you get them to listen.

I soothe my conscience now with the thought that it is better for hard words to be on paper than that Mummy should carry them in her heart.

I’ll never make it, it will never happen, because they’re never going to hear me ‚cause they’re screaming all the time.

‚No comment‘ is a splendid expression. I am using it again and again.

No one would choose a friendless existence on condition of having all the other things in the world.

Woman begins by resisting a man’s advances and ends by blocking his retreat.

I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.