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Quotes about talking

319 quotes from 193 people

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When a politician, on a subject implicating science — hard science, economic science, social science — says, ‘The debate is over,’ you may be sure of two things. It’s that the debate is raging and he’s losing it.
George Willborn 1941Discussion, Fox News Sunday, February 16, 2014
If someone doesn’t value evidence, what evidence are you going to provide to prove that they should value it? If someone doesn’t value logic, what logical argument could you provide to show the importance of logic?
Sam Harrisborn 1967Sam Harris, “Is the Foundation of Morality Natural or Supernatural? – William Lane Craig vs. Sam Harris, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States – April 2011
- Debate
- Thinking
Always remember that it is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood: there will always be some who misunderstand you.
Karl Popper1902–1994Unended Quest: An Intellectual Autobiography (1976)
It is impossible to say just what I mean!
T. S. Eliot1888–1965The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (1915), Line 104In context
Where shall the word be found, where will the word
Resound? Not here, there is not enough silence.
T. S. Eliot1888–1965Ash-Wednesday (1930), VIn context
At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed.
Frederick Douglass1817–1895What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? (1852)
- Debate
“Exactly so,” said Alice.
“Then you should say what you mean,” the March Hare went on.
“I do,” Alice hastily replied; “at least⁠—at least I mean what I say⁠—that’s the same thing, you know.”
“Not the same thing a bit!” said the Hatter. “Why, you might just as well say that ‘I see what I eat’ is the same thing as ‘I eat what I see’!”
Lewis Carroll1832–1898Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1865), Chapter VIIIn context
Brevity is the soul of wit
William Shakespeare1564–1616Hamlet (c. 1600), Act II, Scene II, spoken by PoloniusIn context
- Wisdom
Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the compliment of rational opposition.
Jane Austen1775–1817Sense and Sensibility (1811), Chapter XXXVIIn context
- Clever Jabs
- Debate
There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.
Oscar Wilde1854–1900The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), Chapter IIn context
- Fame
Not to put too fine a point upon it
Charles Dickens1812–1870Bleak House (1853), Chapter XIIn context
“O Tiger-lily,” said Alice, addressing herself to one that was waving gracefully about in the wind, “I wish you could talk!”
“We can talk,” said the Tiger-lily: “when there’s anybody worth talking to.”
Lewis Carroll1832–1898Through the Looking-Glass (1871), Chapter IIIn context
- Clever Jabs
‘The time has come,’ the Walrus said,
‘To talk of many things:
Of shoes⁠—and ships⁠—and sealing-wax⁠—
Of cabbages⁠—and kings⁠—
And why the sea is boiling hot⁠—
And whether pigs have wings.’
Lewis Carroll1832–1898Through the Looking-Glass (1871), Chapter IVIn context
- Poetry
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean⁠—neither more nor less.”
“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master⁠—that’s all.”
Lewis Carroll1832–1898Through the Looking-Glass (1871), Chapter VIIn context
- Power
The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the patter
Dashiell Hammett1894–1961The Maltese Falcon (1930), Chapter 12In context
- Clever Jabs