--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If only our great thinkers could learn to…" description: "\"If only our great thinkers could learn to talk, and our great talkers could learn to think.\" — Ashleigh Brilliant" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/ashleigh-brilliant-944_great-thinkers_if-only-our-great-thinkers-could-learn-t_2367766.png" --- # If only our great thinkers could learn to talk, and our… ![“If only our great thinkers could learn to talk, and our great talkers could learn to think.” quote by Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/ashleigh-brilliant-944_great-thinkers_if-only-our-great-thinkers-could-learn-t_2367766.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/ashleigh-brilliant-944_great-thinkers_if-only-our-great-thinkers-could-learn-t_2367766.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/ashleigh-brilliant-944_great-thinkers_if-only-our-great-thinkers-could-learn-t_2367766.png) > “If only our great thinkers could learn to talk, and our great talkers could learn to think.” [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Great thinkers should communicate ideas; great speakers should think critically. **In simple terms:** Thinkers need to speak; speakers need to reflect. Key Takeaway Cultivate both thinking and speaking skills. Themes communication critical thinking intellectual humility dialogue Mood inspirational challenging Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - debates - leadership training - creative writing - team meetings Key Concepts public speaking philosophy education Questions to Reflect On - How can we train thinkers to be articulate? - What encourages speakers to think deeper? A Different Perspective May be idealistic in practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great thinkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-thinkers/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Thinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinker/) [Thinkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinkers/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Great thinkers often learn, to their surprise, that new ideas are less than welcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerd-gigerenzer/great-thinkers-often-learn-to-their-surprise-that-new-ideas-are-less/) [Gerd Gigerenzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerd-gigerenzer/) > [When the sufferers learn to think, then the thinkers will learn to suffer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/when-the-sufferers-learn-to-think-then-the-thinkers-will-learn-to/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [Great talkers are little doers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/great-talkers-are-little-doers/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Great talkers, little doers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/great-talkers-little-doers/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Great Talkers Are Little Doers; Sometimes, Those People Who Talk A Lot And Are Always Teaching Others Usually Do Not Do Much Work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/great-talkers-are-little-doers-sometimes-those-people-who-talk-a-lot/) Pacifiersucker > [People think we are such great talkers, but there is so much silence in Ireland about certain issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fionnula-flanagan/people-think-we-are-such-great-talkers-but-there-is-so-much-silence/) [Fionnula Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fionnula-flanagan/) > [Great talkers are trying to fill the gap between themselves and others, but only widen it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/great-talkers-are-trying-to-fill-the-gap-between-themselves-and/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Tennessee Williams recognized that great theater begins with great talkers, and that great talkers obey two rules: they never sound like anyone else and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-white/tennessee-williams-recognized-that-great-theater-begins-with-great/) [Edmund White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-white/) > [They who are great talkers in company have never been any talkers by themselves, nor used to private discussions of our home regimen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/they-who-are-great-talkers-in-company-have-never-been-any-talkers-by/) [Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-ashley-cooper-7th-earl-of-shaftesbury/) > [Southerners love a good tale. They are born reciters, great memory retainers, diary keepers, letter exchangers . . . great talkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eudora-welty/southerners-love-a-good-tale-they-are-born-reciters-great-memory/) [Eudora Welty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eudora-welty/) > [The Irish are great talkers and incredibly friendly, it's just in the DNA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charley-boorman/the-irish-are-great-talkers-and-incredibly-friendly-it-s-just-in-the/) [Charley Boorman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charley-boorman/) > [Great talkers do not stop for breath, and never look at the clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/great-talkers-do-not-stop-for-breath-and-never-look-at-the-clock/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [Two great talkers will not travel far together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/two-great-talkers-will-not-travel-far-together/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Great talkers should be cropt, for they've no need of ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/great-talkers-should-be-cropt-for-they-ve-no-need-of-ears/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Unlike most great talkers, the rooks are good workers, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flora-thompson/unlike-most-great-talkers-the-rooks-are-good-workers-too/) [Flora Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flora-thompson/) ## More by Ashleigh Brilliant > [There is a world which I alone rule, but it ends at my fingertips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/there-is-a-world-which-i-alone-rule-but-it-ends-at-my-fingertips/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [How can there ever possibly be a conflict between my private interests and the public good?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/how-can-there-ever-possibly-be-a-conflict-between-my-private/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [I'm not always depressed: only when I think and feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/i-m-not-always-depressed-only-when-i-think-and-feel/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [Cheer up! The worst effects of what we're doing won't be felt until after we're all dead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/cheer-up-the-worst-effects-of-what-we-re-doing-won-t-be-felt-until/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [My play was a complete success. The audience was a failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/my-play-was-a-complete-success-the-audience-was-a-failure/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [Hold on to me: Someday I may be quite valuable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/hold-on-to-me-someday-i-may-be-quite-valuable/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [“Modern travel would be totally delightful if only I could learn to enjoy boredom, discomfort, and fatigue.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/modern-travel-would-be-totally-delightful-if-only-i-could-learn-to/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [As long as I have you there is just one other thing I'll always need - tremendous self control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/as-long-as-i-have-you-there-is-just-one-other-thing-i-ll-always-need/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [There may not be a Heaven, but there is a San Francisco.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/there-may-not-be-a-heaven-but-there-is-a-san-francisco/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [Everything takes longer than you expect, even when you expect it to take longer than you expect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/everything-takes-longer-than-you-expect-even-when-you-expect-it-to/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I'm right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/my-opinions-may-have-changed-but-not-the-fact-that-i-m-right/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [Better start rushing before the rush begins!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/better-start-rushing-before-the-rush-begins/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [The longer I live, the less future there is to worry about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/the-longer-i-live-the-less-future-there-is-to-worry-about/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [Cling to your insecurity, in this world, it's the only thing you can be sure of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/cling-to-your-insecurity-in-this-world-it-s-the-only-thing-you-can-be/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) > [It's hard letting go of the past, when there are no firm handholds in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/it-s-hard-letting-go-of-the-past-when-there-are-no-firm-handholds-in/) [Ashleigh Brilliant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) [Explore all 323 Ashleigh Brilliant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/) ## More Great thinkers quotes > [It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-may-be-important-to-great-thinkers-to-examine-the-world-to-explain/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The benevolence of wrapping the partridge in a vine leaf brings out its quality, just as the barrel of Diogenes brought forth the qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-des-essarts/the-benevolence-of-wrapping-the-partridge-in-a-vine-leaf-brings-out/) Emmanuel des Essarts > [There is no violent surface indication of the ecstasy which great thinkers alone enjoy. There is nothing dramatic about it, but there is some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-russell/there-is-no-violent-surface-indication-of-the-ecstasy-which-great/) [Walter Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-russell/) > [“Have a positive mentality; think it's possible. You can build on something little… you can create something little from nothing… and this means you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/have-a-positive-mentality-think-it-s-possible-you-can-build-on/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The books which help you most are those which make you think the most. The hardest way of learning is by easy reading; every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/the-books-which-help-you-most-are-those-which-make-you-think-the-most/) [Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/) > [There's nothing like the discovery of an unknown work by a great thinker to set the intellectual community atwitter and cause academics to dart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-allen/there-s-nothing-like-the-discovery-of-an-unknown-work-by-a-great/) [Woody Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-allen/) > [There is little doubt that the majority of Mr. Mills supporters in 1865 did not know what his political opinions were, and that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/millicent-fawcett/there-is-little-doubt-that-the-majority-of-mr-mills-supporters-in/) [Millicent Fawcett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/millicent-fawcett/) > [“Great thinkers and geniuses are good listeners, but many are not gifted with excellent communicative speech.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/great-thinkers-and-geniuses-are-good-listeners-but-many-are-not/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [“Desire great things in life. Expect great things in life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/desire-great-things-in-life-expect-great-things-in-life/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Right at this moment, I only want silence. I believe that the end of life is silence in the love people have for you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-price/right-at-this-moment-i-only-want-silence-i-believe-that-the-end-of/) [Vincent Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-price/) > [People who are great thinkers, in science or in art, people who are great performers, have to have that kind of capacity. Without that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-damasio/people-who-are-great-thinkers-in-science-or-in-art-people-who-are/) [Antonio Damasio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-damasio/) > [For the individual, as I can testify, a brief grounding in semantics, besides making philosophy unreadable, makes unreadable most political speeches, classical economic theory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-chase/for-the-individual-as-i-can-testify-a-brief-grounding-in-semantics/) [Stuart Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-chase/) > [First doubt, then inquire, then discover. This has been the process with all our great thinkers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-thomas-buckle/first-doubt-then-inquire-then-discover-this-has-been-the-process-with/) [Henry Thomas Buckle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-thomas-buckle/) > [Every great thinker keeps a journal, you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trenton-lee-stewart/every-great-thinker-keeps-a-journal-you-know/) [Trenton Lee Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trenton-lee-stewart/) > [You have always the same view from your window! For different views, visit other houses! And for different ideas, visit other minds!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/you-have-always-the-same-view-from-your-window-for-different-views/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) [Browse all 64 Great thinkers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-thinkers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If only our great thinkers could learn to talk, and our great talkers could learn to think.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ashleigh Brilliant" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/if-only-our-great-thinkers-could-learn-to-talk-and-our-great-talkers/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Great thinkers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/if-only-our-great-thinkers-could-learn-to-talk-and-our-great-talkers/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/ashleigh-brilliant-944_great-thinkers_if-only-our-great-thinkers-could-learn-t_2367766.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/ashleigh-brilliant-944_great-thinkers_if-only-our-great-thinkers-could-learn-t_2367766.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a9/ashleigh-brilliant-944_great-thinkers_if-only-our-great-thinkers-could-learn-t_2367766.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If only our great thinkers could learn to talk, and our great talkers could learn to think.” — Ashleigh Brilliant", "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": "Ashleigh Brilliant", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashleigh-brilliant/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If only our great thinkers could...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/if-only-our-great-thinkers-could-learn-to-talk-and-our-great-talkers/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashleigh-brilliant/if-only-our-great-thinkers-could-learn-to-talk-and-our-great-talkers/#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 } } ] } ```