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.

Discourse, the sweeter banquet of the mind.

Discourse, the sweeter banquet of the mind.

In conversation avoid the extremes of forwardness and reserve.

In conversation avoid the extremes of forwardness and reserve.

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.

Conversation is the laboratory and workshop of the student.

Conversation is the laboratory and workshop of the student.

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

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

There is no such thing as a worthless conversation, provided you know what to listen for. And questions are the read more

There is no such thing as a worthless conversation, provided you know what to listen for. And questions are the breath of life for a conversation.

I love any discourse of rivers, and fish and fishing.

I love any discourse of rivers, and fish and fishing.

Tom Birch is as brisk as a bee in conversation; but no sooner
does he take a pen in read more

Tom Birch is as brisk as a bee in conversation; but no sooner
does he take a pen in his hand, than it becomes a torpedo to him,
and benumbs all his faculties.