"Speak but little, and that little only..." - Quote by Hafez
Speak but little, and that little only when thy own purposes require it. Heaven has given thee two ears but only one tongue, which means: listen to two things, but be not the first to propose one.
More by Hafez
“The great religions are the ships, Poets the life boats. Every sane person I know has jumped overboard.”
“It is not easy to stop thinking ill of others.Usually one must enter into a friendship with a person who has accomplished that great feat himself.Then something might start to rub off on you of that true elegance.”
“Carry your heart through this world like a life-giving sun”
More on Communication
“No one can speak well, unless he thoroughly understands his subject.”
“There is no one who does not exaggerate. In conversation, men are encumbered with personality, and talk too much.”
“I think education is power. I think that being able to communicate with people is power. One of my main goals on the planet is to encourage people to empower themselves.”
More on Listening
“When I was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I would still have junior officers brief me. Usually these people knew more about the subject we were discussing than I did. I had to make sure that they felt confident enough to tell me everything they believed.”
“Silence is an ocean. Speech is a river. When the ocean is searching for you, don't walk into the river. Listen to the ocean.”
“We cannot be speakers who do not listen. But neither can we be listeners who do not speak.”