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In conversation avoid the extremes of forwardness and reserve.
In conversation avoid the extremes of forwardness and reserve.
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.
A single conversation across the table with a wise person is worth a month's study of books
A single conversation across the table with a wise person is worth a month's study of books
Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood.
Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood.
 Method is not less requisite in ordinary conversation than in 
writing, provided a man would talk to make himself read more 
 Method is not less requisite in ordinary conversation than in 
writing, provided a man would talk to make himself understood. 
I attribute the little I know to my not having been ashamed to ask for information, and to my rule read more
I attribute the little I know to my not having been ashamed to ask for information, and to my rule of conversing with all descriptions of men on those topics that form their own peculiar professions and pursuits.
 They converse as those who know that God hears.
 [Lat., Ita fabulantur ut qui sciant Dominum audire.]  
 They converse as those who know that God hears.
 [Lat., Ita fabulantur ut qui sciant Dominum audire.] 
 A dearth of words a woman need not fear;
 But 'tis a task indeed to learn to hear:
 read more 
 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. 
 They would talk of nothing but high life and high-lived company, 
with other fashionable topics, such as pictures, taste, read more 
 They would talk of nothing but high life and high-lived company, 
with other fashionable topics, such as pictures, taste, 
Shakespeare, and the musical glasses.