Compelled Quote by Hannah More
“when these incorrigible talkers are compelled to be quiet, is it not evident that they are not silent because they are listening to what is said, but because they are thinking of what they themselves shall say when they can seize the first lucky interval, for which they are so narrowly watching?”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Female Spectator, 1795
People who dominate conversation often wait to speak rather than listen, using silence to plan their next remark.
In simple terms: Talkers use quiet to plot speech.
Key Takeaway
Listen before planning a response.
Themes
communication
listening
power dynamics
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
observational
analytical
When to use this quote
- meetings
- debates
- classroom discussions
- political rallies
Key Concepts
rhetoric
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you truly listen when others speak?
- How does planning speech affect relationships?
A Different Perspective
Silence can also be genuine contemplation, not just strategic.
![“I've written a lot of other books and this book [Tears we cannot stop] was different. I couldn't just say what I wanted to say in the same style that I said it in those other books. I felt compelled to preach.” quote by Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f3e/michael-eric-dyson-1424_book_i-ve-written-a-lot-of-other-books-and-th_45441.jpg)
