---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Bore: a person who talks when you wish…"
description: "\"Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen.\" — Ambrose Bierce"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/ambrose-bierce-140_bore_bore-a-person-who-talks-when-you-wish-hi_332384.jpg"
---

#  Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen.

![“Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/ambrose-bierce-140_bore_bore-a-person-who-talks-when-you-wish-hi_332384.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/ambrose-bierce-140_bore_bore-a-person-who-talks-when-you-wish-hi_332384.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ba/ambrose-bierce-140_bore_bore-a-person-who-talks-when-you-wish-hi_332384.jpg)

> “Bore: a person who talks when you wish him to listen.”

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A bore dominates conversation, ignoring the listener’s desire to speak.

**In simple terms:** Talkers ignore listeners.

Key Takeaway

Listen more, speak less.

Themes

communication social etiquette patience

Mood

irritated humorous

Type

advice observational

When to use this quote

- social gatherings
- work meetings
- family dinner

Key Concepts

talking listening dynamics

Questions to Reflect On

- How often do you dominate conversations?
- What strategies help you become a better listener?

A Different Perspective

Some may view silence as rude.

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[Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/)

## Related quotes

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> [A bore is a person who opens his mouth and puts his feats in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/a-bore-is-a-person-who-opens-his-mouth-and-puts-his-feats-in-it/)

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> [I wish you'd listen closer to the songs I play. Because the lyrics are the words I fail to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tumblr/i-wish-you-d-listen-closer-to-the-songs-i-play-because-the-lyrics-are/)

Tumblr

> [“It's very strange that WE always wish to listen good for ourselves from others, but at the same time becomes tough for us to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neeraj-bhanot/it-s-very-strange-that-we-always-wish-to-listen-good-for-ourselves/)

[Neeraj Bhanot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neeraj-bhanot/)

> [I wish you could listen a little closer to the songs I play because they speak the words I fail to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-you-could-listen-a-little-closer-to-the-songs-i-play-because/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I wish you'd listen carefully to the music I listen to, they speak the words I fail to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akila-sultana/i-wish-you-d-listen-carefully-to-the-music-i-listen-to-they-speak-the/)

[Akila Sultana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akila-sultana/)

> [I wish you'd listen closer to the songs I play because the lyrics speak the words I fail to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan/i-wish-you-d-listen-closer-to-the-songs-i-play-because-the-lyrics/)

[Sushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan/)

> [I wish you'd listen closer to the songs I play. 'Cause the lyrics speak the words I fail to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-wish-you-d-listen-closer-to-the-songs-i-play-cause-the-lyrics-speak/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [A bore is someone who takes away my solitude and doesn't give me companionship in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-bore-is-someone-who-takes-away-my-solitude-and-doesn-t-give-me/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [He was not only a bore; he bored for England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/he-was-not-only-a-bore-he-bored-for-england/)

[Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/)

> [The distinctions of fine art bore me to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/the-distinctions-of-fine-art-bore-me-to-death/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [It's a bore - B-O-R-E - when you find you've begun to rot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/it-s-a-bore-b-o-r-e-when-you-find-you-ve-begun-to-rot/)

[Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/)

## More by Ambrose Bierce

> [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/)

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> [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/)

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> [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/)

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> [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

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[Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

## More Bore quotes

> [It's a bore - B-O-R-E - when you find you've begun to rot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-hepburn/it-s-a-bore-b-o-r-e-when-you-find-you-ve-begun-to-rot/)

[Katharine Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-hepburn/)

> [The distinctions of fine art bore me to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-sendak/the-distinctions-of-fine-art-bore-me-to-death/)

[Maurice Sendak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-sendak/)

> [He was not only a bore; he bored for England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-muggeridge/he-was-not-only-a-bore-he-bored-for-england/)

[Malcolm Muggeridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-muggeridge/)

> [A bore is someone who takes away my solitude and doesn't give me companionship in return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/a-bore-is-someone-who-takes-away-my-solitude-and-doesn-t-give-me/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [The way to be a bore is to say everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/the-way-to-be-a-bore-is-to-say-everything/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [“We all bore scars, whether on the outside or in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tillie-cole/we-all-bore-scars-whether-on-the-outside-or-in/)

[Tillie Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tillie-cole/)

> [Bore : A fellow who can change the subject back to his topic of conversation faster than you can change it back to yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/bore-a-fellow-who-can-change-the-subject-back-to-his-topic-of/)

[Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/)

> [One of the advantages of appearing in such a play is that you begin to understand it properly, I feel Ophelia's tragedy was that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lalla-ward/one-of-the-advantages-of-appearing-in-such-a-play-is-that-you-begin/)

[Lalla Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lalla-ward/)

> [Characters develop as the book progresses, but any that start to bore me end up in the wastepaper basket. In real life, we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-graham/characters-develop-as-the-book-progresses-but-any-that-start-to-bore/)

[Laurie Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-graham/)

> [We all denounce bores, but while we do so, let us remember that there is nobody who isn't a bore to somebody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-spender/we-all-denounce-bores-but-while-we-do-so-let-us-remember-that-there/)

[J. A. Spender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-spender/)

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[Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/)

> [He is an old bore. Even the grave yawns for him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-beerbohm-tree/he-is-an-old-bore-even-the-grave-yawns-for-him/)

[Herbert Beerbohm Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-beerbohm-tree/)

> [People like Ian McEwan and Jonathan Franzen completely bore me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-shields/people-like-ian-mcewan-and-jonathan-franzen-completely-bore-me/)

[David Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-shields/)

> [“Be bold, don't be boring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/be-bold-don-t-be-boring/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [Every improvement in communication makes the bore more terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-moore-colby/every-improvement-in-communication-makes-the-bore-more-terrible/)

[Frank Moore Colby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-moore-colby/)

Browse all 169 Bore quotes

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