Next time Quote by Anthony Powell
““I addressed a remark to him which he acknowledged simply by closing and opening his eyes, making me feel that, the next time I spoke, I ought to make an attempt to find something a trifle less banal to say: though his smile at the same time absolved me from the slightest blame in falling so patently short of his accustomed standards.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: “A Dance to the Music of Time”, Volume 2, 1952
A character’s subtle eye‑closure signals a gentle rebuke, prompting the speaker to aim for more thoughtful, less trivial conversation.
In simple terms: Non‑verbal cues can guide better dialogue.
Key Takeaway
Be mindful of subtle feedback.
Themes
communication
social nuance
self‑improvement
Mood
analytical
contemplative
Type
observation
advice
When to use this quote
- meeting
- social gathering
- written correspondence
Key Concepts
social etiquette
conversation dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- What non‑verbal signals do you miss?
- How can you improve conversational depth?
A Different Perspective
Interpretation of gestures can be ambiguous.
![“We went to America a few times and [Brian] Epstein always tried to waffle on at us about saying nothing about Vietnam. So there came a time when George [Harrison] and I said 'Listen, when they ask next time, we're going to say we don't like that war and we think they should get right out.' That's…” quote by John Lennon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/512/john-lennon-322_america_we-went-to-america-a-few-times-and-brian_12070.jpg)
