The best time to hold your tongue is the time you feel you must say something or bust. -Josh Billings.

The best time to hold your tongue is the time you feel you must say something or bust. -Josh Billings.

I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I read more

I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have by reading novels.

Take care what you say before a wall, as you cannot tell who may be behind it.

Take care what you say before a wall, as you cannot tell who may be behind it.

Much silence makes a powerful noise. -African proverb.

Much silence makes a powerful noise. -African proverb.

Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again.

Everything has been said before, but since nobody listens we have to keep going back and beginning all over again.

The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked me what I thought, and attended to my read more

The greatest compliment that was ever paid me was when one asked me what I thought, and attended to my answer. -Henry David Thoreau.

You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time. -M. Scott Peck.

You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time. -M. Scott Peck.

A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he knows something. -Wilson Mizner.

A good listener is not only popular everywhere, but after a while he knows something. -Wilson Mizner.

The time to stop talking is when the other person nods his head affirmatively but says nothing. -Unknown.

The time to stop talking is when the other person nods his head affirmatively but says nothing. -Unknown.