--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It [speaking with words that bring about…" description: "\"“It [speaking with words that bring about harmony] consists of speaking of what is good about people, instead of what is wrong with them. For some peop..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/jean-yves-leloup-32474_language_it-speaking-with-words-that-bring-about_1622934.jpg" --- # It \[speaking with words that bring about harmony\] consists… ![“It [speaking with words that bring about harmony] consists of speaking of what is good about people, instead of what is wrong with them. For some people this is an almost impossible exercise, for they have become totally habituated to speaking critically. We all seem to have a special talent for…” quote by Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/jean-yves-leloup-32474_language_it-speaking-with-words-that-bring-about_1622934.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/jean-yves-leloup-32474_language_it-speaking-with-words-that-bring-about_1622934.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/jean-yves-leloup-32474_language_it-speaking-with-words-that-bring-about_1622934.jpg) > ““It \[speaking with words that bring about harmony\] consists of speaking of what is good about people, instead of what is wrong with them. For some people this is an almost impossible exercise, for they have become totally habituated to speaking critically. We all seem to have a special talent for finding critical things to say about the world, about others, and about ourselves! (117)”” [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speaking positively about others highlights goodness, countering our habit of criticism, which is hard but transformative. **In simple terms:** Positive speech reveals goodness; criticism is a habit. Key Takeaway Practice speaking kindly about others. Themes compassion communication self‑awareness Mood empathetic thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - family gatherings - public speaking - online comments Key Concepts positive psychology ethical speech Questions to Reflect On - How can you shift from criticism to praise? - What benefits arise from focusing on others' strengths? A Different Perspective Changing ingrained critical habits can be uncomfortable and meet effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ## Related quotes > [Of course, there are also faculty who are discouraged from speaking critically about social issues because of the increasing assumption in American society that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/of-course-there-are-also-faculty-who-are-discouraged-from-speaking/) [Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/) > [“If you are not good at speaking, be good at listening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-are-not-good-at-speaking-be-good-at-listening/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [I don't think the elite class is only speaking the good English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mamata-banerjee/i-don-t-think-the-elite-class-is-only-speaking-the-good-english/) [Mamata Banerjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mamata-banerjee/) > [A vain man finds his account in speaking good or evil of himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/a-vain-man-finds-his-account-in-speaking-good-or-evil-of-himself/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Speaking and doing are two different actions springing up the two completely different results. But, the best result arrives when a mans speaking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anuj-somany/speaking-and-doing-are-two-different-actions-springing-up-the-two/) [Anuj Somany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anuj-somany/) > [What prevents a man's speaking good sense with a smile on his face?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/what-prevents-a-man-s-speaking-good-sense-with-a-smile-on-his-face/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Friends have ways of speaking without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dalgliesh/friends-have-ways-of-speaking-without-words/) Alice Dalgliesh > [I'm so sick of speaking words that no one understands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-so-sick-of-speaking-words-that-no-one-understands/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Friends have a way of speaking without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-dalgliesh/friends-have-a-way-of-speaking-without-words/) Alice Dalgliesh > [Speaking words that go against Gods Word defile your spirit. Guard your mouth and you will guard your inner man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/creflo-dollar/speaking-words-that-go-against-gods-word-defile-your-spirit-guard/) [Creflo Dollar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/creflo-dollar/) > [“Speaking the words aloud so they would exist in the world and begin to become real.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/speaking-the-words-aloud-so-they-would-exist-in-the-world-and-begin/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [“That was the strange thing about translation, speaking someone else's words in a voice that somehow was and wasn't your own. You could fool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-wasserman/that-was-the-strange-thing-about-translation-speaking-someone-else-s/) [Robin Wasserman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-wasserman/) > [Think Before You Speak, Words Have Power, People Are Pretty Careless With The Words They Choose. Especially When Speaking. Your Words Can Help And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/think-before-you-speak-words-have-power-people-are-pretty-careless/) Pacifiersucker > [Because of my voice, speaking words which had been carefully chosen, women had used money they had set aside for other purposes to buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-smith/because-of-my-voice-speaking-words-which-had-been-carefully-chosen/) [Kate Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-smith/) > [That speaking the words, even if true, had little power to change the inevitable or even make him feel much better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/that-speaking-the-words-even-if-true-had-little-power-to-change-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) ## More by Jean-Yves Leloup > [“The meditative mind sees disagreeable or agreeable things with equanimity, patience, and good-will. Transcendent knowledge is seeing reality in utter simplicity. (146)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/the-meditative-mind-sees-disagreeable-or-agreeable-things-with/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“The depth of our compassion is proportional to the depth of our living. (65)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/the-depth-of-our-compassion-is-proportional-to-the-depth-of-our/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [ “\[C\]hange your thinking, your interpretation of he world, change the way you see! To change the way you see is to change the world.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/c-hange-your-thinking-your-interpretation-of-he-world-change-the-way/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“Much blood has been spilled over words, and a great deal of it over the word ‘God.’ (125)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/much-blood-has-been-spilled-over-words-and-a-great-deal-of-it-over/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“Sometimes the best answer to a question is another question. Is it not by asking questions that we stimulate each other to reach more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/sometimes-the-best-answer-to-a-question-is-another-question-is-it-not/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“To be grounded in an attitude of compassion is to be capable of receiving and welcoming the suffering, which the other is giving us.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/to-be-grounded-in-an-attitude-of-compassion-is-to-be-capable-of/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“Quoting Father Seraphim: Our life hangs only by a breath. It is the thread that links you to the Father, the Source, which brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/quoting-father-seraphim-our-life-hangs-only-by-a-breath-it-is-the/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“The compassionate person does not require other people to be stupid, in order to be intelligent. Their intelligence is for everyone, so as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/the-compassionate-person-does-not-require-other-people-to-be-stupid/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“In certain situations, manifesting anger is the right attitude; in others it is not the right thing to manifest because it will only add…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/in-certain-situations-manifesting-anger-is-the-right-attitude-in/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“The best religion or practice is the one that makes us better. (42)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/the-best-religion-or-practice-is-the-one-that-makes-us-better-42/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“It is important never to separate love and knowledge, compassion and wisdom. A wisdom without compassion is closed upon itself and does not bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/it-is-important-never-to-separate-love-and-knowledge-compassion-and/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“There are many greedy and clever human animals in this world, but few human beings. Authentic human beings are so rare that I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/there-are-many-greedy-and-clever-human-animals-in-this-world-but-few/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“The ego is like a clever monkey, which can co-opt anything, even the most spiritual practices, so as to expand itself. (155)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/the-ego-is-like-a-clever-monkey-which-can-co-opt-anything-even-the/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) > [“Lead us toward a speech, which is as beautiful as silence, and toward a silence, which is as beautiful as the sweetest and truest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/lead-us-toward-a-speech-which-is-as-beautiful-as-silence-and-toward-a/) [Jean-Yves Leloup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) [Explore all 15 Jean-Yves Leloup quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/) ## More Language quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) Ted Martinez > [Usually male directors have to use foul language to get the job done. But I never came down to that level as being a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divya-khosla-kumar/usually-male-directors-have-to-use-foul-language-to-get-the-job-done/) [Divya Khosla Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divya-khosla-kumar/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [A man walks down the street. It's a street in a strange world. Maybe it's the third world. Maybe it's his first time around.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-simon/a-man-walks-down-the-street-it-s-a-street-in-a-strange-world-maybe-it/) [Paul Simon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-simon/) > [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/) TimBur > [It's like saying French shouldn't be taught because you don't understand it because it's new. Shakespeare is just like learning a new, exciting language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/it-s-like-saying-french-shouldn-t-be-taught-because-you-don-t/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [I am attracted to looking at the different things language can mean even in one sometimes quite ordinary utterance. Writing is partly about listening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rae-armantrout/i-am-attracted-to-looking-at-the-different-things-language-can-mean/) [Rae Armantrout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rae-armantrout/) > [What is music? Music is language. A human being wants to express ideas in this language, but not ideas that can be translated into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/what-is-music-music-is-language-a-human-being-wants-to-express-ideas/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [You're beautiful, cute, pretty, gorgeous, and fuck.. I ran out of words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raghib-clitso/you-re-beautiful-cute-pretty-gorgeous-and-fuck-i-ran-out-of-words/) [Raghib Clitso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raghib-clitso/) > [The world has a soul and whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of many things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-world-has-a-soul-and-whoever-understands-that-soul-can-also/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The words for what I want to say right now don't exist. Everything sounds…so cliché.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelly-crane/the-words-for-what-i-want-to-say-right-now-don-t-exist-everything/) [Shelly Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelly-crane/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Words can kill you trust towards someone, mind you language people, every reaction had its consequence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-can-kill-you-trust-towards-someone-mind-you-language-people/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Finxerunt animi, raro et perpauca loquentis. (To action little, less to words inclinded.)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/finxerunt-animi-raro-et-perpauca-loquentis-to-action-little-less-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) [Browse all 21,951 Language quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It [speaking with words that bring about harmony] consists of speaking of what is good about people, instead of what is wrong with them. For some people this is an almost impossible exercise, for they have become totally habituated to speaking critically. We all seem to have a special talent for finding critical things to say about the world, about others, and about ourselves! (117)”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jean-Yves Leloup" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/it-speaking-with-words-that-bring-about-harmony-consists-of-speaking/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Language" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/it-speaking-with-words-that-bring-about-harmony-consists-of-speaking/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/jean-yves-leloup-32474_language_it-speaking-with-words-that-bring-about_1622934.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/jean-yves-leloup-32474_language_it-speaking-with-words-that-bring-about_1622934.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/jean-yves-leloup-32474_language_it-speaking-with-words-that-bring-about_1622934.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It [speaking with words that bring about harmony] consists of speaking of what is good about people, instead…” — Jean-Yves Leloup", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jean-Yves Leloup", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-yves-leloup/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“It [speaking with words that bring...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/it-speaking-with-words-that-bring-about-harmony-consists-of-speaking/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-yves-leloup/it-speaking-with-words-that-bring-about-harmony-consists-of-speaking/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```