--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Nature has given to men one tongue, but…" description: "\"Nature has given to men one tongue, but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak\" — Epictetus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/epictetus-413_communication_nature-has-given-to-men-one-tongue-but-t_2573691.jpg" --- # Nature has given to men one tongue, but two ears, that we… ![“Nature has given to men one tongue, but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak” quote by Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/epictetus-413_communication_nature-has-given-to-men-one-tongue-but-t_2573691.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/epictetus-413_communication_nature-has-given-to-men-one-tongue-but-t_2573691.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f8e/epictetus-413_communication_nature-has-given-to-men-one-tongue-but-t_2573691.jpg) > “Nature has given to men one tongue, but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak” [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans should listen more than they speak, using two ears versus one tongue. **In simple terms:** Listen twice as much as you speak. Key Takeaway Prioritize listening. Themes communication humility wisdom Mood calm reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal relationships - teamwork - conflict resolution Key Concepts Stoicism ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance listening and speaking? - What benefits arise from listening more? A Different Perspective Over‑listening can hinder personal expression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) ## Related quotes > [Nature hath given men one tongue but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/nature-hath-given-men-one-tongue-but-two-ears-that-we-may-hear-from/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Nature has given man one tongue, but two ears, that we may hear twice as much as we speak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/nature-has-given-man-one-tongue-but-two-ears-that-we-may-hear-twice/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Nature gave us one tongue and two ears so we could hear twice as much as we speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/nature-gave-us-one-tongue-and-two-ears-so-we-could-hear-twice-as-much/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now I see that going out into the testing ground of men it is the tongue and not the deed that wins the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/now-i-see-that-going-out-into-the-testing-ground-of-men-it-is-the/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-have-two-ears-and-one-mouth-so-that-we-can-listen-twice-as-much-as/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [Tell me you want me inside you. Don't take your tongue off my ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/serani/tell-me-you-want-me-inside-you-don-t-take-your-tongue-off-my-ears/) [Serani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/serani/) > [“The repeat is always the killer. Everything inside you goes into saying the word once, but sorry is the kind of word the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-summers/the-repeat-is-always-the-killer-everything-inside-you-goes-into/) [Courtney Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-summers/) > [“Not everything you meet twice is the truth. Not everything you hear twice is the fact, and not everything you ponder over and over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/not-everything-you-meet-twice-is-the-truth-not-everything-you-hear/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we can hear twice as much as we say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-gave-us-two-ears-and-one-mouth-so-we-can-hear-twice-as-much-as-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Think before you act; think twice before you speak..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/think-before-you-act-think-twice-before-you-speak/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Think wisely and twice before you speak”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john/think-wisely-and-twice-before-you-speak/) [John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john/) > [I think that the larger and more complex the business gets, I have to listen twice as much as I speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-ahrendts/i-think-that-the-larger-and-more-complex-the-business-gets-i-have-to/) [Angela Ahrendts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-ahrendts/) > [“We have two ears and one mouth, therefore we should listen twice as much as we speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeno/we-have-two-ears-and-one-mouth-therefore-we-should-listen-twice-as/) Zeno > [Think twice before you speak - and you'll find everyone talking about something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-rodman/think-twice-before-you-speak-and-you-ll-find-everyone-talking-about/) [Frances Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-rodman/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More by Epictetus > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. 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