--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The measure of a conversation is how much…" description: "\"The measure of a conversation is how much mutual recognition there is in it; how much shared there is in it. If you're talking about what's in your own..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/dylan-moran-1716_about_the-measure-of-a-conversation-is-how-muc_1663289.jpg" --- # The measure of a conversation is how much mutual… ![“The measure of a conversation is how much mutual recognition there is in it; how much shared there is in it. If you're talking about what's in your own head, or without thought to what people looking and listening will feel, you might as well be in a room talking to yourself.” quote by Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/dylan-moran-1716_about_the-measure-of-a-conversation-is-how-muc_1663289.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/dylan-moran-1716_about_the-measure-of-a-conversation-is-how-muc_1663289.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/268/dylan-moran-1716_about_the-measure-of-a-conversation-is-how-muc_1663289.jpg) > “The measure of a conversation is how much mutual recognition there is in it; how much shared there is in it. If you're talking about what's in your own head, or without thought to what people looking and listening will feel, you might as well be in a room talking to yourself.” [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote emphasizes that meaningful conversation requires mutual understanding and empathy, not just self‑focused talk. **In simple terms:** Good talk needs listening and shared meaning. Key Takeaway Practice active listening. Themes communication empathy dialogue mutual recognition conversation quality Mood thoughtful instructive philosophical Type advice philosophical communication When to use this quote - team meetings - friendship - therapy sessions - public debates Key Concepts psychology social dynamics mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure others feel heard? - What barriers prevent shared understanding? A Different Perspective It assumes all participants can achieve equal recognition, which may be unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [About](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Conversation Mutual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation-mutual-782390/) [Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feel/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Head](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head/) [How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/how/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Measure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure/) [Measure Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/measure-conversation-782388/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Mutual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mutual/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Recognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognition/) [Room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/room/) [Room Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/room-talking-782391/) [Rooms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooms/) [Shared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shared/) [Shared Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shared-talking-782389/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking to yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-to-yourself/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Without](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/without/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) [Yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yourself/) ## Related quotes > [“For both of us, it had simply been too enormous an experience. We shared it by not talking about it . Does this make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/for-both-of-us-it-had-simply-been-too-enormous-an-experience-we/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I can't stand when I walk into a room and everyone's not talking to each other and just on their phones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-can-t-stand-when-i-walk-into-a-room-and-everyone-s-not-talking-to/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Getting the death stare from everyone in the room because you were talking too much...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/getting-the-death-stare-from-everyone-in-the-room-because-you-were/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You watch Bono in a room - and we're talking about a room of thousands swarming around him - he'll take every single person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stroumboulopoulos/you-watch-bono-in-a-room-and-we-re-talking-about-a-room-of-thousands/) [George Stroumboulopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stroumboulopoulos/) > [“When 100 people in a room are all talking about me, is it called networking—or the benefits of cloning?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/when-100-people-in-a-room-are-all-talking-about-me-is-it-called/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The truth of the matter is, when you're on 'Howard Stern,' you feel like you're in his living room talking to him, you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-glanville/the-truth-of-the-matter-is-when-you-re-on-howard-stern-you-feel-like/) [Brandi Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-glanville/) > [Im pretty bored with people sitting in a room talking about what theyre going to do, yeah. Id like to be Han Solo. Id…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mitchell/im-pretty-bored-with-people-sitting-in-a-room-talking-about-what/) [Elizabeth Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mitchell/) > [Whenever you read a good book, it's like the author is right there, in the room, talking to you, which is why I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whenever-you-read-a-good-book-it-s-like-the-author-is-right-there-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The thing that I love about television there are no more than two or three people watching you at a time. If there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betty-white/the-thing-that-i-love-about-television-there-are-no-more-than-two-or/) [Betty White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betty-white/) > [That awkward moment when you realize you were talking to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-awkward-moment-when-you-realize-you-were-talking-to-yourself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Prayer – The Art Of Talking To Yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stefanelli/prayer-the-art-of-talking-to-yourself/) [Al Stefanelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stefanelli/) > [Marriage is like a casino...you go in all excited and optimistic, you stumble out broke, drunk and talking to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/marriage-is-like-a-casino-you-go-in-all-excited-and-optimistic-you/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [Paranoia," Sam muttered. "You're going slowly nuts, dude. Or maybe not so slowly, since you're talking to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-grant/paranoia-sam-muttered-you-re-going-slowly-nuts-dude-or-maybe-not-so/) [Michael Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-grant/) > [“Introspection means talking to yourself, and one of the best ways of talking to yourself is by talking to another person. One other person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-fagan/introspection-means-talking-to-yourself-and-one-of-the-best-ways-of/) [Kate Fagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-fagan/) > [“Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martyn-lloyd-jones/have-you-realized-that-most-of-your-unhappiness-in-life-is-due-to-the/) [Martyn Lloyd-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martyn-lloyd-jones/) ## More by Dylan Moran > [“You should be alive as you can until you're totally dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/you-should-be-alive-as-you-can-until-you-re-totally-dead/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [America's work ethic is non-stop; it's not even enshrined in law that workers have to get their two weeks holiday money. But Americans work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/america-s-work-ethic-is-non-stop-it-s-not-even-enshrined-in-law-that/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [The characters can't be wittier than people are in real life. They have to be character witty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/the-characters-can-t-be-wittier-than-people-are-in-real-life-they/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [ \[Adulthood feels like\] walking around in the desert with a bag over your head, being bumped into by people who rob you as they… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/adulthood-feels-like-walking-around-in-the-desert-with-a-bag-over/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [Don't do it! Stay away from your potential. You'll mess it up, it's potential, leave it. Anyway, it's like your bank balance - you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/don-t-do-it-stay-away-from-your-potential-you-ll-mess-it-up-it-s/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [If you're talking about crowd enthusiasm, it varies. I have a decent following in Australia so I like there. I'm interested in playing everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/if-you-re-talking-about-crowd-enthusiasm-it-varies-i-have-a-decent/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [There are two types of wine essentially, and everybody knows this. There's the one where you drink it and go, "Mmmm, well that's ok,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/there-are-two-types-of-wine-essentially-and-everybody-knows-this/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [Go and lie down in the dark... for hours... and don't move. I'm locking the door now](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/go-and-lie-down-in-the-dark-for-hours-and-don-t-move-i-m-locking-the/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [I suppose the best comedy shows do have the rock n' roll feeling - if it's a great night, and the roof is raised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/i-suppose-the-best-comedy-shows-do-have-the-rock-n-roll-feeling-if-it/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [Beer must be made by food companies. It makes you wander the streets at 3 am looking for things to eat. "What's that, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/beer-must-be-made-by-food-companies-it-makes-you-wander-the-streets/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [The sensible thing for everyone to do would be to write all their op-eds and think pieces now so they're ready the day after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/the-sensible-thing-for-everyone-to-do-would-be-to-write-all-their-op/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [I don't do drugs. If I want a rush I just get out of a chair when I'm not expecting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/i-don-t-do-drugs-if-i-want-a-rush-i-just-get-out-of-a-chair-when-i-m/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [I think I still get something from the original broadcaster but I'm certainly not aware of any Netflix van driving to my house and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/i-think-i-still-get-something-from-the-original-broadcaster-but-i-m/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [People do need a social license to go, "Ha ha ha," and have a good time. It's a strange thing. There's a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/people-do-need-a-social-license-to-go-ha-ha-ha-and-have-a-good-time/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) > [I'm a vegetarian, well I'm not hardcore because I eat meat, but only because I like the taste, and I hate vegetables on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-moran/i-m-a-vegetarian-well-i-m-not-hardcore-because-i-eat-meat-but-only/) [Dylan Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) [Explore all 213 Dylan Moran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-moran/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Browse all 26,122 About quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/about/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The measure of a conversation is how much mutual recognition there is in it; how much shared there is in it. 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