--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It takes two to speak truth, one to speak…" description: "\"It takes two to speak truth, one to speak and another to hear.\" — Henry David Thoreau" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/henry-david-thoreau-20_speech_it-takes-two-to-speak-truth-one-to-speak_1610659.jpg" --- # It takes two to speak truth, one to speak and another to… ![“It takes two to speak truth, one to speak and another to hear.” quote by Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/henry-david-thoreau-20_speech_it-takes-two-to-speak-truth-one-to-speak_1610659.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/henry-david-thoreau-20_speech_it-takes-two-to-speak-truth-one-to-speak_1610659.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff3/henry-david-thoreau-20_speech_it-takes-two-to-speak-truth-one-to-speak_1610659.jpg) > “It takes two to speak truth, one to speak and another to hear.” [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Truth requires both speaking and listening; each role is essential. **In simple terms:** Truth needs a speaker and a listener. Key Takeaway Balance speaking and listening for truth. Themes communication truth balance Mood reflective thoughtful Type dialogue philosophical When to use this quote - debates - personal conversations - team meetings Key Concepts philosophy dialogue Questions to Reflect On - Are you listening as much as you speak? - How does listening change your understanding? A Different Perspective Listening may be ignored, limiting truth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [It takes two to speak the truth: one to speak, and another to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-takes-two-to-speak-the-truth-one-to-speak-and-another-to-hear/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“It takes two to speak the truth: one to speak, and another to hear. —Henry David Thoreau     CLAIRE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleatha-romig/it-takes-two-to-speak-the-truth-one-to-speak-and-another-to-hear-2/) [Aleatha Romig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleatha-romig/) > [The only way to speak the truth is to speak lovingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-only-way-to-speak-the-truth-is-to-speak-lovingly/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Stop holding your truth; speak your truth. Be yourself. It's the healthiest way to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-haddish/stop-holding-your-truth-speak-your-truth-be-yourself-it-s-the/) [Tiffany Haddish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-haddish/) > [I would prefer to just continue to speak about truth and to speak about what makes sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-would-prefer-to-just-continue-to-speak-about-truth-and-to-speak/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Truth is fire, and to speak the truth means to shine and to burn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leopold-schefer/truth-is-fire-and-to-speak-the-truth-means-to-shine-and-to-burn/) [Leopold Schefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leopold-schefer/) > [There is a big disincentive to talk about the truth. I will speak the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/there-is-a-big-disincentive-to-talk-about-the-truth-i-will-speak-the/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [I am who I am. I don't change for anyone. I like the truth and speak the truth. If it bothers you, don't listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-who-i-am-i-don-t-change-for-anyone-i-like-the-truth-and-speak/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What politicians do is they never get the rhetoric wrong, and the price they pay is they don't speak the truth as they see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/what-politicians-do-is-they-never-get-the-rhetoric-wrong-and-the/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [Speak only the truth, but speak it wisely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keisha-v/speak-only-the-truth-but-speak-it-wisely/) Keisha V > [The only truth is that we cannot speak the truth . 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Speak yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-louise-birmingham/sometimes-all-it-takes-is-one-person-to-speak-their-truth-speak-yours/) [Catherine Louise Birmingham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-louise-birmingham/) > [What I am endeavoring to do is simply speak the truth, speak common-sense values, free market principles and the Constitution. For every question, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/what-i-am-endeavoring-to-do-is-simply-speak-the-truth-speak-common/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) ## More by Henry David Thoreau > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. 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