--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There’s one powerful way to quiet the…" description: "\"“There’s one powerful way to quiet the voice in your head and the voice in their head at the same time: treat two schizophrenics with just one pill. In..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/chris-voss-5746_quote_there-s-one-powerful-way-to-quiet-the-vo_531173.jpg" --- # There’s one powerful way to quiet the voice in your head… ![“There’s one powerful way to quiet the voice in your head and the voice in their head at the same time: treat two schizophrenics with just one pill. Instead of prioritizing your argument—in fact, instead of doing any thinking at all in the early goings about what you’re going to say—make your sole…” quote by Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/chris-voss-5746_quote_there-s-one-powerful-way-to-quiet-the-vo_531173.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/chris-voss-5746_quote_there-s-one-powerful-way-to-quiet-the-vo_531173.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08a/chris-voss-5746_quote_there-s-one-powerful-way-to-quiet-the-vo_531173.jpg) > ““There’s one powerful way to quiet the voice in your head and the voice in their head at the same time: treat two schizophrenics with just one pill. Instead of prioritizing your argument—in fact, instead of doing any thinking at all in the early goings about what you’re going to say—make your sole and all-encompassing focus the other person and what they have to say. In that mode of true active listening—aided by the tactics you’ll learn in the following chapters—you’ll disarm your counterpart. You’ll make them feel safe. The voice in their head will begin to quiet down.”” [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective listening shifts focus from self to others, reducing conflict and fostering safety. **In simple terms:** Listening to others quietens both sides' inner critics. Key Takeaway Prioritize the other person's words fully. Themes communication conflict resolution empathy Mood strategic calm Type negotiation self-help When to use this quote - business negotiations - personal disputes - team meetings - customer service Key Concepts active listening psychology negotiation tactics Questions to Reflect On - What barriers might prevent true listening? - How can you maintain focus on the other person? A Different Perspective Listening alone may not resolve deep-seated disagreements. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I can picture the character in my head, and the voice just comes out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-can-picture-the-character-in-my-head-and-the-voice-just-comes-out/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [The voice inside your head is not the voice of god. It just sounds like it thinks it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheri-huber/the-voice-inside-your-head-is-not-the-voice-of-god-it-just-sounds/) [Cheri Huber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheri-huber/) > [“I can't get you out of me. Your smile's in my head and your voice in my ear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nyrae-dawn/i-can-t-get-you-out-of-me-your-smile-s-in-my-head-and-your-voice-in/) [Nyrae Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nyrae-dawn/) > [“ We keep having moments, voice-in-my-head! You can't deny it. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-lynn-shultz/we-keep-having-moments-voice-in-my-head-you-can-t-deny-it/) [Cara Lynn Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-lynn-shultz/) > [The voice in your head is like a wild horse taking you wherever it wants to go...When the voice in your head finally stops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/the-voice-in-your-head-is-like-a-wild-horse-taking-you-wherever-it/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [I get recognised on the phone because it's harder to cover up your voice than your head. You can put a hat on or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-stirling/i-get-recognised-on-the-phone-because-it-s-harder-to-cover-up-your/) [Iain Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-stirling/) > [Without the little voice in your head you wouldn't be able to read this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/without-the-little-voice-in-your-head-you-wouldn-t-be-able-to-read/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Whatever you do, you must never let the voice in your head control the brain in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/whatever-you-do-you-must-never-let-the-voice-in-your-head-control-the/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [That mean voice in your head is not you and not true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/that-mean-voice-in-your-head-is-not-you-and-not-true/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [Without that little voice in your head you wouldnt be able to read this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/without-that-little-voice-in-your-head-you-wouldnt-be-able-to-read/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [What a liberation to realize that the 'voice in my head' is not who I am. 'Who am I, then?' The one who sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/what-a-liberation-to-realize-that-the-voice-in-my-head-is-not-who-i/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [ How do you gag the voice in your head that says, 'You don't have to \[do it\] today. There's always tomorrow.'? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/how-do-you-gag-the-voice-in-your-head-that-says-you-don-t-have-to-do/) [A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/) > [I can't keep your voice out of my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blink-182/i-can-t-keep-your-voice-out-of-my-head/) Blink 182 > [“That last voice in his head. It hadn't been Billy's. It was his own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/that-last-voice-in-his-head-it-hadn-t-been-billy-s-it-was-his-own/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [Television is a thing that people get very familiar with. They want to hear your voice in their head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-wayans-jr/television-is-a-thing-that-people-get-very-familiar-with-they-want-to/) [Damon Wayans, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-wayans-jr/) ## More by Chris Voss > [“Most of the time, you should be using the positive/playful voice. It’s the voice of an easygoing, good-natured person. Your attitude is light and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/most-of-the-time-you-should-be-using-the-positive-playful-voice-it-s/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“By repeating back what people say, you trigger this mirroring instinct and your counterpart will inevitably elaborate on what was just said and sustain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/by-repeating-back-what-people-say-you-trigger-this-mirroring-instinct/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“Every case is new. We must let what we know - our known knowns - guide us but not blind us to what we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/every-case-is-new-we-must-let-what-we-know-our-known-knowns-guide-us/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“The Downs hijacking case came to epitomize everything not to do in a crisis situation, and inspired the development of today’s theories, training, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/the-downs-hijacking-case-came-to-epitomize-everything-not-to-do-in-a/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“In any interaction, it pleases us to feel that the other side is listening and acknowledging our situation. Whether you are negotiating a business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/in-any-interaction-it-pleases-us-to-feel-that-the-other-side-is/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“Here are some other great standbys that I use in almost every negotiation, depending on the situation: What about this is important to you?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/here-are-some-other-great-standbys-that-i-use-in-almost-every/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“If I just ask for a volunteer, my students sit on their hands and look away. You’ve been there. You can almost feel your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/if-i-just-ask-for-a-volunteer-my-students-sit-on-their-hands-and-look/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“when you phrase a label as a neutral statement of understanding, it encourages your counterpart to be responsive. They’ll usually give a longer answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/when-you-phrase-a-label-as-a-neutral-statement-of-understanding-it/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“There are essentially three voice tones available to negotiators: the late-night FM DJ voice, the positive/playful voice, and the direct or assertive voice. Forget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/there-are-essentially-three-voice-tones-available-to-negotiators-the/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“Instead of addressing his grumpy behavior, you acknowledge his sadness in a nonjudgmental way. You head him off before he can really get started.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/instead-of-addressing-his-grumpy-behavior-you-acknowledge-his-sadness/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“Notice we said 'It sounds like . . .' and not 'I'm hearing that . . .' That's because the word 'I' gets people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/notice-we-said-it-sounds-like-and-not-i-m-hearing-that-that-s-because/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“What were needed were simple psychological tactics and strategies that worked in the field to calm people down, establish rapport, gain trust, elicit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/what-were-needed-were-simple-psychological-tactics-and-strategies/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“they should be teased out. Labeling is a helpful tactic in de-escalating angry confrontations, because it makes the person acknowledge their feelings rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/they-should-be-teased-out-labeling-is-a-helpful-tactic-in-de/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“List the worst things that the other party could say about you and say them before the other person can. Performing an accusation audit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/list-the-worst-things-that-the-other-party-could-say-about-you-and/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) > [“Try this the next time you have to apologize for a bone-headed mistake. Go right at it. The fastest and most efficient means of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-voss/try-this-the-next-time-you-have-to-apologize-for-a-bone-headed/) [Chris Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) [Explore all 94 Chris Voss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-voss/) ## More Voice Head quotes > [Television is a thing that people get very familiar with. They want to hear your voice in their head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-wayans-jr/television-is-a-thing-that-people-get-very-familiar-with-they-want-to/) [Damon Wayans, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-wayans-jr/) > [“That last voice in his head. It hadn't been Billy's. It was his own.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/that-last-voice-in-his-head-it-hadn-t-been-billy-s-it-was-his-own/) [Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/) > [I can't keep your voice out of my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blink-182/i-can-t-keep-your-voice-out-of-my-head/) Blink 182 > [ How do you gag the voice in your head that says, 'You don't have to \[do it\] today. There's always tomorrow.'? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/how-do-you-gag-the-voice-in-your-head-that-says-you-don-t-have-to-do/) [A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/) > [What a liberation to realize that the 'voice in my head' is not who I am. 'Who am I, then?' The one who sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/what-a-liberation-to-realize-that-the-voice-in-my-head-is-not-who-i/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Without that little voice in your head you wouldnt be able to read this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-joslan/without-that-little-voice-in-your-head-you-wouldnt-be-able-to-read/) Azgraybebly Joslan > [That mean voice in your head is not you and not true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-forleo/that-mean-voice-in-your-head-is-not-you-and-not-true/) [Marie Forleo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-forleo/) > [Whatever you do, you must never let the voice in your head control the brain in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/whatever-you-do-you-must-never-let-the-voice-in-your-head-control-the/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [Without the little voice in your head you wouldn't be able to read this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/without-the-little-voice-in-your-head-you-wouldn-t-be-able-to-read/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [I get recognised on the phone because it's harder to cover up your voice than your head. You can put a hat on or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-stirling/i-get-recognised-on-the-phone-because-it-s-harder-to-cover-up-your/) [Iain Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-stirling/) > [The voice in your head is like a wild horse taking you wherever it wants to go...When the voice in your head finally stops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-angel-ruiz/the-voice-in-your-head-is-like-a-wild-horse-taking-you-wherever-it/) [Miguel Angel Ruiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-angel-ruiz/) > [“ We keep having moments, voice-in-my-head! You can't deny it. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-lynn-shultz/we-keep-having-moments-voice-in-my-head-you-can-t-deny-it/) [Cara Lynn Shultz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-lynn-shultz/) > [That stupid voice in my head is driving me crazy, it's the one that keeps telling me: this time it'll be different](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie/that-stupid-voice-in-my-head-is-driving-me-crazy-it-s-the-one-that/) [Leslie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie/) > [“The voice in your head, sometimes that’s me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-printy/the-voice-in-your-head-sometimes-that-s-me/) [Jen Printy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jen-printy/) > [I needed to turn off the negative voice in my head - I was psyching myself out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/i-needed-to-turn-off-the-negative-voice-in-my-head-i-was-psyching/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) Browse all 28 Voice Head quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“There’s one powerful way to quiet the voice in your head and the voice in their head at the same time: treat two schizophrenics with just one pill. 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