Conversation is a traffick; and if you enter into it…
![“Conversation is a traffick; and if you enter into it, without some stock of knowledge, to ballance the account perpetually betwixtyou,--the trade drops at once: and this is the reasonwhy travellers have so little [good] conversation with natives,--owing to their [the natives'] suspicionthat there…” quote by Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/40f/laurence-sterne-1405_accounts_conversation-is-a-traffick-and-if-you-en_280475.jpg)
“Conversation is a traffick; and if you enter into it, without some stock of knowledge, to ballance the account perpetually betwixtyou,--the trade drops at once: and this is the reasonwhy travellers have so little [good] conversation with natives,--owing to their [the natives'] suspicionthat there is nothing to be extracted from the conversationworth the trouble of their bad language.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Conversation requires knowledge to be balanced; without it, dialogue collapses and natives distrust outsiders.
In simple terms: Good talk needs knowledge; otherwise it fails.
Key Takeaway
Prepare and listen before speaking.
Themes
communication
knowledge
trust
culture
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- travel
- cross‑cultural meetings
- learning new languages
- networking
Key Concepts
epistemology
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you build trust in a new conversation?
- What knowledge helps bridge cultural gaps?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all natives are suspicious, which may not hold universally.