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Communication Quotes

    “Most human relationships consist mainly of minds interacting with each other, not of human beings communicating, being in communion.  No relationship can thrive in that way, and that is why there is so much conflict in relationships.  When the mind is running your life, conflict, strife, and problems are inevitable.  Being in touch with your inner body creates a clear space of no-mind within which the relationship can flower.” ~ Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now (Page 127)

      “When things fall apart, and chaos re-emerges, we can give structure to it, and re-establish order, through our speech.  If we speak carefully and precisely, we can sort things out, and put them in their proper place, and set a new goal, and navigate to it—often communally, if we negotiate; if we reach consensus.  If we speak carelessly and imprecisely, however, things remain vague.  The destination remains unproclaimed.  The fog of uncertainty does not lift, and there is no negotiating through the world.” ~ Jordan Peterson, via 12 Rules for Life (Page 278)

        “People organize their brains with conversation.  If they don’t have anyone to tell their story to, they lose their minds.  Like hoarders, they cannot unclutter themselves.  The input of the community is required for the integrity of the individual psyche.  To put it another way: It takes a village to organize a mind.” ~ Jordan Peterson, via 12 Rules for Life (Page 250)

          “Pay less attention to the words that people say and greater attention to their tone of voice, the look in their eye, their body language—all signals that might reveal a nervousness or excitement that is not expressed verbally.  If you can get people to become emotional, they will reveal a lot more.  Cutting off your interior monologue and paying deep attention, you will pick up cues from them that will register with you as feelings or sensations.  Trust these sensations—they are telling you something that you will often tend to ignore because it is not easy to verbalize.” ~ Robert Greene, Mastery

            “Wherever I meet people, I always have the feeling that I am encountering another human being, just like myself.  I find it is much easier to communicate with others on that level.  If we emphasize specific characteristics, like I am Tibetan or I am Buddhist, then there are differences.  But those things are secondary.  If we can leave the differences aside, I think we can easily communicate, exchange ideas, and share experiences.” ~ Dalai Lama, The Art of Happiness

              “If you were to die this evening with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone?  What good might come out of telling them now?” ~ Gregory Stock, The Book of Questions

                “People don’t believe what you tell them.  They rarely believe what you show them.  They often believe what their friends tell them.  They always believe what they tell themselves.”

                Seth Godin, Whatcha Gonna Do With That Duck?

                  “For true listening, no matter how brief, requires tremendous effort.  You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.” ~ Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled

                    “Communication is merely an exchange of information, but connection is an exchange of our humanity.” ~ Sean Stephenson, Get Off Your “But”

                      “Gossiping has become the main form of communication in human society. It has become the way we feel close to each other, because it makes us feel better to see someone else feel as badly as we do. There is an old expression that says, ‘Misery likes company,’ and people who are suffering in hell don’t want to be all alone.” ~ Don Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements