--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A man who listens because he has nothing…" description: "\"A man who listens because he has nothing to say can hardly be a source of inspiration. The only listening that counts is that of the talker who alterna..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/agnes-repplier-1850_communication_a-man-who-listens-because-he-has-nothing_3040101.jpg" --- # A man who listens because he has nothing to say can hardly… ![“A man who listens because he has nothing to say can hardly be a source of inspiration. The only listening that counts is that of the talker who alternately absorbs and expresses ideas.” quote by Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/agnes-repplier-1850_communication_a-man-who-listens-because-he-has-nothing_3040101.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/agnes-repplier-1850_communication_a-man-who-listens-because-he-has-nothing_3040101.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/agnes-repplier-1850_communication_a-man-who-listens-because-he-has-nothing_3040101.jpg) > “A man who listens because he has nothing to say can hardly be a source of inspiration. The only listening that counts is that of the talker who alternately absorbs and expresses ideas.” [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Listening without contributing yields little inspiration; true listening involves active exchange. **In simple terms:** Listening must be active to inspire. Key Takeaway Practice active listening. Themes communication inspiration dialogue Mood thoughtful instructive Type literary educational When to use this quote - meetings - teaching - collaborative projects Key Concepts effective leadership learning environments Questions to Reflect On - How can I improve my listening skills? - When does listening become passive? A Different Perspective May be hard to balance speaking and listening. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Source of inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source-of-inspiration/) ## Related quotes > [My biggest source of inspiration is listening to people's conversations. I'm a big eavesdropper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/my-biggest-source-of-inspiration-is-listening-to-people-s/) [Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/) > [A woman is already halfway in love with any man who listens to her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dtk-smith/a-woman-is-already-halfway-in-love-with-any-man-who-listens-to-her/) [David DtK Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dtk-smith/) > [A wise man listens no matter how stupidly someone is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-wise-man-listens-no-matter-how-stupidly-someone-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When facts speak, the wise man listens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/when-facts-speak-the-wise-man-listens/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“But I tell you what it is; an honest and sensitive man is open; and a business man 'listens and goes on eating' you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/but-i-tell-you-what-it-is-an-honest-and-sensitive-man-is-open-and-a/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [“Words have to find a man’s mind before they can touch his heart, and some men’s minds are woeful small targets. Music touches their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/words-have-to-find-a-man-s-mind-before-they-can-touch-his-heart-and-2/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [The man who listens to Reason is lost: Reason enslaves all whose minds are not strong enough to master her](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-man-who-listens-to-reason-is-lost-reason-enslaves-all-whose-minds/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [When a fool speaks,the wise man listens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-kid/when-a-fool-speaks-the-wise-man-listens/) [Ace Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-kid/) > [Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-paul-vi/modern-man-listens-more-willingly-to-witnesses-than-to-teachers-and/) [Pope Paul VI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-paul-vi/) > [The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury/the-way-of-a-fool-seems-right-to-him-but-a-wise-man-listens-to-advice/) [Karen Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury/) > [The reason I'm a psychologist is based in part on my telephone routines. Much of my humor comes out of reaction to what other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/the-reason-i-m-a-psychologist-is-based-in-part-on-my-telephone/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [“Remember this, son, if you forget everything else. A poet is a musician who can’t sing. Words have to find a man’s mind before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/remember-this-son-if-you-forget-everything-else-a-poet-is-a-musician/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“A poet is a musician that can't sing. Words have to find a man's mind before they can touch his heart, and some men's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/a-poet-is-a-musician-that-can-t-sing-words-have-to-find-a-man-s-mind/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“I didn’t want to see you but you invaded my world Every dark corner you found a way in Bringing color to the lifeless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbi-glines/i-didn-t-want-to-see-you-but-you-invaded-my-world-every-dark-corner/) [Abbi Glines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbi-glines/) > [“Fear and shame are the backbone of my self-control. They are my source of inspiration, my insurance against becoming entirely unacceptable. They help me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allie-brosh/fear-and-shame-are-the-backbone-of-my-self-control-they-are-my-source/) [Allie Brosh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allie-brosh/) ## More by Agnes Repplier > [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Letter-writing on the part of a busy man or woman is the quintessence of generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/letter-writing-on-the-part-of-a-busy-man-or-woman-is-the-quintessence/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [To have given pleasure to one human being is a recollection that sweetens life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/to-have-given-pleasure-to-one-human-being-is-a-recollection-that/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Believers in political faith-healing enjoy a supreme immunity from doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/believers-in-political-faith-healing-enjoy-a-supreme-immunity-from/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Philadelphians are every whit as mediocre as their neighbors, but they seldom encourage each other in mediocrity by giving it a more agreeable name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/philadelphians-are-every-whit-as-mediocre-as-their-neighbors-but-they/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [When the milk of human kindness turns sour, it is a singularly unpalatable draught.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/when-the-milk-of-human-kindness-turns-sour-it-is-a-singularly/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Conversation in its happiest development is a link, equally exquisite and adequate, between mind and mind, a system by which men approach one another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/conversation-in-its-happiest-development-is-a-link-equally-exquisite/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [What monstrous absurdities and paradoxes have resisted whole batteries of serious arguments, and then crumbled swiftly into dust before the ringing death-knell of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/what-monstrous-absurdities-and-paradoxes-have-resisted-whole/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [the labors of the true critic are more essential to the author, even, than to the reader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-labors-of-the-true-critic-are-more-essential-to-the-author-even/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/he-is-your-friend-your-partner-your-defender-your-dog-you-are-his/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Our dogs will love and admire the meanest of us, and feed our colossal vanity with their uncritical homage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/our-dogs-will-love-and-admire-the-meanest-of-us-and-feed-our-colossal/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Erudition, like a bloodhound, is a charming thing when held firmly in leash, but it is not so attractive when turned loose upon a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/erudition-like-a-bloodhound-is-a-charming-thing-when-held-firmly-in/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [There was no escape from the letter-writer who, a hundred or a hundred and twenty-five years ago, captured a coveted correspondent. It would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/there-was-no-escape-from-the-letter-writer-who-a-hundred-or-a-hundred/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [Sleep sweetly in the fields of asphodel, and waken, as of old, to stretch thy languid length, and purr thy soft contentment to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/sleep-sweetly-in-the-fields-of-asphodel-and-waken-as-of-old-to/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) > [In the stress of modern life, how little room is left for that most comfortable vanity that whispers in our ears that failures are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/in-the-stress-of-modern-life-how-little-room-is-left-for-that-most/) [Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) [Explore all 203 Agnes Repplier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) Yoram Wind > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) [Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A man who listens because he has nothing to say can hardly be a source of inspiration. The only listening that counts is that of the talker who alternately absorbs and expresses ideas.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Agnes Repplier" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/a-man-who-listens-because-he-has-nothing-to-say-can-hardly-be-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/a-man-who-listens-because-he-has-nothing-to-say-can-hardly-be-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/agnes-repplier-1850_communication_a-man-who-listens-because-he-has-nothing_3040101.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/agnes-repplier-1850_communication_a-man-who-listens-because-he-has-nothing_3040101.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/45c/agnes-repplier-1850_communication_a-man-who-listens-because-he-has-nothing_3040101.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A man who listens because he has nothing to say can hardly be a source of inspiration. The only listening…” — Agnes Repplier", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Agnes Repplier", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A man who listens because he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/a-man-who-listens-because-he-has-nothing-to-say-can-hardly-be-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/a-man-who-listens-because-he-has-nothing-to-say-can-hardly-be-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```