Conversation should touch everything, but should concentrate itself on nothing.

Conversation should touch everything, but should concentrate itself on nothing.

Form'd by thy converse, happily steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe.

Form'd by thy converse, happily steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe.

Discourse, the sweeter banquet of the mind.

Discourse, the sweeter banquet of the mind.

And when you stick on conversation's burs,
Don't strew your pathway with those dreadful urs.

And when you stick on conversation's burs,
Don't strew your pathway with those dreadful urs.

With good and gentle-humored hearts
I choose to chat where'er I come
Whate'er the subject be that read more

With good and gentle-humored hearts
I choose to chat where'er I come
Whate'er the subject be that starts.
But if I get among the glum
I hold my tongue to tell the truth
And keep my breath to cool my broth.

Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing.

Drawing on my fine command of language, I said nothing.

A dearth of words a woman need not fear;
But 'tis a task indeed to learn to hear:
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A dearth of words a woman need not fear;
But 'tis a task indeed to learn to hear:
In that the skill of conversation lies;
That shows and makes you both polite and wise.

Conversation may be compared to a lyre with seven chords - philosophy, art, poetry, love, scandal, and the weather.

Conversation may be compared to a lyre with seven chords - philosophy, art, poetry, love, scandal, and the weather.

Questioning is not the mode of conversation among gentlemen.

Questioning is not the mode of conversation among gentlemen.