"What are the great faults of conversation? Want of ideas, want of words, want of manners, are the principal ones, I suppose you think. I don't doubt it, but I will tell you what I have found spoil more good talks than anything else;- long arguments on special points between people who differ on the fundamental principles upon which these points depend. No men can have satisfactory relations with each other until they have agreed on certain ultimata [finalities] of belief not to be disturbed in ordinary conversation, and unless they have sense enough to trace the secondary questions depending upon these ultimate beliefs to their source. In short, just as a written constitution is essential to the best social order, so a code of finalities is a necessary condition of talk between two persons."

"And, when you stick on conversation's burs, Don't strew your pathway with those dreadful urs."

"Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence."

"Conversation is the laboratory and workshop of the student."

"When we are in the company of sensible men we ought to be doubly cautious of talking too much, lest we lose two good things, their good opinion, and our own improvement, and disclose one thing which had better have been concealed, our self-sufficiency; for what we have to say we know, but what they have to say we know not."

"Conversation is a game of circles."

"Egotists cannot converse, they talk to themselves only."

"Conversation presupposes a common sympathy in the subject, a great equality in the speakers; absence of egotism, a tender criticism of what is spoken."

"Many can argue, not many converse."

"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 or makes you both polite and wise."

"And surely one of the best rules in conversation is, never to say a thing which any of the company can reasonably wish had been left unsaid…"

"Writing, when properly managed (as you may be sure I think mine is), is but a different name for conversation."

"It is a secret known but to few, yet of no small use in the conduct of life, that when you fall into a man's conversation, the first thing you should consider is, whether he has a greater inclination to hear you, or that you should hear him."

"Form'd by thy converse, happily to steer From grave to gay, from lively to severe."

"That silence is one of the great arts of conversation is allowed by Cicero himself, who says, there is not only an art, but even an eloquence in it."

"Who sedulously attends, pointedly asks, calmly speaks, coolly answers, and ceases when he has no more to say, is in possession of some of the best requisites of man."

"His conversation does not show the minute hand—but he generally strikes the hour very correctly."

"Questioning is not the mode of conversation among gentlemen."

"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."

"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."

"I never, with important air, In conversation overbear. * * * * My tongue within my lips I rein; For who talks much must talk in vain."

"With thee conversing, I forget the way."

"But conversation, choose what theme we may, And chiefly when religion leads the way, Should flow, like waters after summer show'rs, Not as if raised by mere mechanic powers."

"With good and gentle humour'd hearts I choose to chat where e'er I come; Whate'er the subject be that starts; But if I get among the glum, I hold my tongue to tell the troth, And keep my breath to cool my broth."

"Method is not less requisite in ordinary conversation than in writing, provided a man would talk to make himself understood."

"On se forme l’esprit et le sentiment par les conversations. On se gâte l’esprit et le sentiment par les conversations. Ainsi les bonnes ou les mauvaises le forment ou le gâtent. Il importe donc de tout de les savoir choisir pour se le former et ne le point gâter; et on ne peut faire ce choix, si on ne l’a déjà formé et point gâté. Ainsi cela fait un cercle, d’où sont bienheureux ceux qui sortent."

"With thee conversing I forget all time: All seasons and their change, all please alike."

"A young man before he leaves the shelter of his father's house, and the guard of a tutor, should be fortify'd with resolution, and made acquainted with men, to secure his virtues, lest he should be led into some ruinous course, or fatal precipice, before he is sufficiently acquainted with the dangers of conversation, and his steadiness enough not to yield to every temptation."

"L’esprit de la conversation consiste bien moins à en montrer beaucoup qu’à en faire trouver aux autres: celui qui sort de votre entretien content de soi et de son esprit, l’est de vous parfaitement. Les hommes n’aiment point à vous admirer, ils veulent plaire; ils cherchent moins à être instruits, et même réjouis, qu’à être goûtés et applaudis; et le plaisir le plus délicat est de faire celui d’autrui."

"In conversation avoid the extremes of forwardness and reserve."

"There is, however, nothing wanting to the idleness of a philosopher but a better name, and that meditation, conversation, and reading should be called “work.”"

"Ita fabulantur ut qui sciant Dominum audire."

"Sermo animi est imago; qualis vir, talis et oratio est."

"Talis hominibus est oratio qualis vita."

"We took sweet counsel together."

"I thank you for your voices: thank you: Your most sweet voices."

"Though I am young, I scorn to flit On the wings of borrowed wit."

"Nae wut without a portion o' impertinence."

"He had too thoughtful a wit: like a penknife in too narrow a sheath, too sharp for his body."

"Good wits will jump."

"And wit its honey lent, without the sting."

"Too much wit makes the world rotten."

"It is with wits as with razors, which are never so apt to cut those they are employed on as when they have lost their edge."

"It is having in some measure a sort of wit to know how to use the wit of others."

"Wit consists in knowing the resemblance of things which differ, and the difference of things which are alike."

"One wit, like a knuckle of ham in soup, gives a zest and flavour to the dish, but more than one serves only to spoil the pottage."

"Surprise is so essential an ingredient of wit that no wit will bear repetition;—at least the original electrical feeling produced by any piece of wit can never be renewed."

"Man could direct his ways by plain reason, and support his life by tasteless food; but God has given us wit, and flavour, and brightness, and laughter, and perfumers, to enliven the days of man's pilgrimage, and to "charm his pained steps over the burning marle.""

"Fine wits destroy themselves with their own plots, in meddling with great affairs of state."