The worst of all listeners is the man who does nothing but listen.
Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.
The aim of talk should be like the aim of a flying arrow – to hit the mark; but to this end there must be a mark to hit, that is, there must be a listener.
Of all bad listeners, the worst and most terrible to encounter is the man who is so fond of listening that he wishes to hear, not only your conversation, but that of every other person in the room.
Let’s not forget that small emotions are the great captains of our lives, and that these we obey without knowing it.
It is not the language of painters but the language of nature which one should listen to, the feeling for the things themselves, for reality is more important than the feeling for pictures.
He that cannot obey, cannot command.
