“We have two ears and only one mouth, that we may hear more and speak less.”
Zeno of Citium
ListeningWisdom
Communication Quotes
200 FAMOUS QUOTES · COMMUNICATION
Communication Quotes
Read 200 of the best communication quotes about listening, speaking, words, silence and conversation, from Shakespeare, Confucius, Mark Twain and more.
“It is not enough to know what we ought to say; we must also say it as we ought.”
Aristotle
SpeakingDelivery
“This discovery of yours will create forgetfulness in the learners' souls, because they will not use their memories.”
Plato
WritingMemory
“We should say what we feel, and feel what we say; speech should harmonize with life.”
Seneca
HonestyAuthenticity
“Speech that deals with the truth should be unadorned and plain.”
Seneca
TruthSimplicity
“Speech is a mirror of the soul: as a man speaks, so is he.”
Publilius Syrus
CharacterSpeaking
“I have often regretted my speech, never my silence.”
Publilius Syrus
SilenceWisdom
“Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly.”
Plutarch
ListeningLearning
“Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.”
Plutarch
SilenceTiming
“Nothing is so unbelievable that oratory cannot make it acceptable.”
Cicero
PersuasionSpeaking
“Once a word has been allowed to escape, it cannot be recalled.”
Horace
WordsCaution
“One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand.”
Quintilian
ClarityWriting
“The superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
Confucius
ActionsHumility
“Without knowing the force of words, it is impossible to know men.”
Confucius
WordsUnderstanding
“He who knows does not care to speak; he who is ever ready to speak does not know.”
Lao Tzu
WisdomSilence
“Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere.”
Lao Tzu
HonestyWords
“Do not speak harshly to anybody; those who are spoken to will answer thee in the same way.”
Buddha (Dhammapada)
KindnessRespect
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
The Bible (Proverbs 18:21)
Power Of WordsWisdom
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.”
The Bible (Proverbs 25:11)
WordsTiming
“Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise.”
The Bible (Proverbs 17:28)
SilenceFunny
“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”
The Bible (Proverbs 18:13)
ListeningPatience
“Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt.”
The Bible (Colossians 4:6)
KindnessSpeaking
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying.”
The Bible (Ephesians 4:29)
EncouragementWords
“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”
The Bible (Proverbs 16:24)
KindnessWords
“Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay.”
The Bible (Matthew 5:37)
HonestyClarity
Related Topics
About Communication Quotes
Good communication is the foundation of every strong friendship, family, team and business. It is not only about what we say, but how we say it, when we say it and, most of all, how well we listen. A single kind word can build trust, while a careless one can undo years of it.
This collection brings together 200 of the best communication quotes about listening, speaking, words, silence and conversation, from Confucius, Plutarch, William Shakespeare, Francis Bacon, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mark Twain and the Book of Proverbs. Use them to become a better listener, a clearer speaker and a more thoughtful communicator at home and at work.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Communication quotes.
What is the most famous quote about communication?
Zeno of Citium's observation that "we have two ears and only one mouth, that we may hear more and speak less" is one of the oldest and most famous communication quotes. Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue," is another classic.
What are good quotes about listening?
Plutarch said, "Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly," and Shakespeare advised, "Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice." Montaigne added that speech belongs half to the speaker and half to the listener.
What are good communication quotes for the workplace?
Quintilian's "aim... at being impossible to misunderstand" is perfect for clear business writing, and Pascal's joke about making a letter shorter reminds us that brevity takes effort. Emerson's "speech is power" is great for leadership and presentations.
What does "speech is silver, silence is golden" mean?
Thomas Carlyle popularised this saying in Sartor Resartus. It means that while speaking well is valuable, knowing when to stay quiet is even more valuable.
What does the Bible say about communication?
Colossians 4:6 says our speech should be "alway with grace, seasoned with salt," and Ephesians 4:29 asks us to speak words that build others up. Proverbs 25:11 compares a well-timed word to "apples of gold in pictures of silver."
How can I become a better communicator?
Listen more than you speak, think before you answer, and match your words with your actions. As Shakespeare put it, "Suit the action to the word, the word to the action."