Speakers who have grown up in the American community unconsciously know its rules about taking turns in conversations-in the same way that they know the rules of grammar and the rules about appropriate speech in various situations.

Very strong personalities must confine themselves in mutual conversation to very gentle subjects.

He divides conversation into two categories: when you speak, and when you listen to yourself speak.

Reading makes a full man, meditation a profound man, discourse a clear man.

If to talk to oneself when alone is folly, it must be doubly unwise to listen to oneself in the presence of others.

A person who talks with equal vivacity on every subject, excites no interest in any. Repose is as necessary in conversation as in a picture.

That is the happiest conversation where there is no competition, no vanity, but a calm quiet interchange of sentiments.

Conversation is not a search after knowledge, but an endeavour at effect.

The success of conversation consists less in being witty than in bringing out wit in others; the man who leaves after talking with you, pleased with himself and his own wit, is perfectly pleased with you.

Confidence contributes more to conversation than wit.