--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you interrupt, you've stopped…" description: "\"When you interrupt, you've stopped listening. People need to be heard.\" — Jerry Seinfeld" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/jerry-seinfeld-880_communication_when-you-interrupt-you-ve-stopped-listen_2324000.jpg" --- # When you interrupt, you've stopped listening. People need… ![“When you interrupt, you've stopped listening. People need to be heard.” quote by Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/jerry-seinfeld-880_communication_when-you-interrupt-you-ve-stopped-listen_2324000.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/jerry-seinfeld-880_communication_when-you-interrupt-you-ve-stopped-listen_2324000.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/jerry-seinfeld-880_communication_when-you-interrupt-you-ve-stopped-listen_2324000.jpg) > “When you interrupt, you've stopped listening. People need to be heard.” [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Interrupting stops listening, preventing others from feeling heard and understood. **In simple terms:** Interrupting blocks listening and makes people feel ignored. Key Takeaway Listen fully before responding. Themes communication listening respect empathy Mood thoughtful calm Type advice practical When to use this quote - meetings - customer service - personal relationships - team projects Key Concepts psychology social dynamics conversation skills Questions to Reflect On - How can you signal you are listening without speaking? - What habits help you stay present in conversations? A Different Perspective Sometimes silence can be misinterpreted as disinterest. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Interrupt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interrupt/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Listening People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening-people/) [Need Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-heard-1860030/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Stopped Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stopped-listening-789887/) ## Related quotes > [I stopped listening to what people say. For me, the most important thing is what my family says, what my coaches say, what my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-blachowicz/i-stopped-listening-to-what-people-say-for-me-the-most-important/) [Jan Blachowicz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-blachowicz/) > [The world is full of people who have stopped listening to themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-world-is-full-of-people-who-have-stopped-listening-to-themselves/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [SPEAK UP FOR OTHERS! AND YOURSELF! HAVE A VOICE! TREAT YOUR VOICE LIKE IT'S A WEAPON!!! SPEAK UP,LOVES! YOU NEED TO BE HEARD!!! You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasmine/speak-up-for-others-and-yourself-have-a-voice-treat-your-voice-like/) [Jasmine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasmine/) > [The voices of women need to be heard. The volume needs to be turned up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-bancroft/the-voices-of-women-need-to-be-heard-the-volume-needs-to-be-turned-up/) [Ann Bancroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-bancroft/) > [I'm the oldest of nine, so I know I need to be heard over all the ruckus, and I think I'm less of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-james/i-m-the-oldest-of-nine-so-i-know-i-need-to-be-heard-over-all-the/) [Janelle James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-james/) > [Sometimes people just need to be heard. They find happiness in sharing their thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akkineni-nagarjuna/sometimes-people-just-need-to-be-heard-they-find-happiness-in-sharing/) [Akkineni Nagarjuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akkineni-nagarjuna/) > [“You really need to be heard,seen and felt;build your personality and create your person-hood in this day and age.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/you-really-need-to-be-heard-seen-and-felt-build-your-personality-and/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [Sometimes listening itself may not be enough-some people must be prodded if you are to find out what they're thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/sometimes-listening-itself-may-not-be-enough-some-people-must-be/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [I can speak a little German, a little Spanish, and I was a psych major, so I'm good at listening to people's problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-walsh/i-can-speak-a-little-german-a-little-spanish-and-i-was-a-psych-major/) [Matt Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-walsh/) > [Before Hollywood happened to me, I just took a break to think about whether I belong in the industry or whether I should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-kim/before-hollywood-happened-to-me-i-just-took-a-break-to-think-about/) [Claudia Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-kim/) > [I majored in psychology, and I still love listening to people's problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gayle-king/i-majored-in-psychology-and-i-still-love-listening-to-people-s/) [Gayle King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gayle-king/) > [There's all sorts of stories about me. I've stopped listening to them. You've got to laugh at them, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-ryder/there-s-all-sorts-of-stories-about-me-i-ve-stopped-listening-to-them/) [Shaun Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-ryder/) > [I stopped listening to a lot of music because I wanted to become more comfortable with what I naturally sound like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saweetie/i-stopped-listening-to-a-lot-of-music-because-i-wanted-to-become-more/) [Saweetie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saweetie/) > [You say I changed but no I just stopped listening to you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-say-i-changed-but-no-i-just-stopped-listening-to-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I had a lot of people that told me, 'Oh you're dated, or you're this or you're that or you need to be more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-pearce/i-had-a-lot-of-people-that-told-me-oh-you-re-dated-or-you-re-this-or/) [Carly Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-pearce/) ## More by Jerry Seinfeld > [“i chose not to run”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-chose-not-to-run/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [We’re all trying to get to the same island, whether you swim, fly, surf, or skydive in, it doesn’t matter. What matters is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/we-re-all-trying-to-get-to-the-same-island-whether-you-swim-fly-surf/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I have a nice bookshelf in my office, but not my house. I'm crass, but not that crass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-have-a-nice-bookshelf-in-my-office-but-not-my-house-i-m-crass-but/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [There's no downside to fame and people who whine about it make me sick. It's the greatest thing in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/there-s-no-downside-to-fame-and-people-who-whine-about-it-make-me/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [We're all trying to get to the same island — whether you swim, fly, surf, or skydive, it doesn't matter. What matters is when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/we-re-all-trying-to-get-to-the-same-island-whether-you-swim-fly-surf-2/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I was in the drug store the other day trying to get a cold medication...Not easy. There's an entire wall of products you need.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-was-in-the-drug-store-the-other-day-trying-to-get-a-cold-medication/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [I went up to the camp and Paul had me eat my first oyster I had never had an oyster in my life. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/i-went-up-to-the-camp-and-paul-had-me-eat-my-first-oyster-i-had-never/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [Then, finally, the third year, begging the parents, I got the Superman Halloween costume. Cardboard box, self-made top, mask included. Remember the rubber band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/then-finally-the-third-year-begging-the-parents-i-got-the-superman/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [This is really a crazy idea, you know. It probably won't work, but that will be interesting, too. You have to motivate yourself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/this-is-really-a-crazy-idea-you-know-it-probably-won-t-work-but-that/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [If you get something right, you really feel it, right in your chest, on stage. I think it's an incomparable experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/if-you-get-something-right-you-really-feel-it-right-in-your-chest-on/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [People have an infinite attention span if you are entertaining them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/people-have-an-infinite-attention-span-if-you-are-entertaining-them/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [It's hard to do nothing because you tend to do something and then you have to drop everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/it-s-hard-to-do-nothing-because-you-tend-to-do-something-and-then-you/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [A really hard laugh is like sex-one of the ultimate diversions of existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/a-really-hard-laugh-is-like-sex-one-of-the-ultimate-diversions-of/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [There are many things you can point to as proof that the human is not smart. But my personal favorite would have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/there-are-many-things-you-can-point-to-as-proof-that-the-human-is-not/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) > [You know what I never get with the limo? The tinted windows. Is that so people don't see you? Yeah, what a better way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/you-know-what-i-never-get-with-the-limo-the-tinted-windows-is-that-so/) [Jerry Seinfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) [Explore all 342 Jerry Seinfeld quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [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/) > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) [Yoram Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoram-wind/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) [Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you interrupt, you've stopped listening. People need to be heard.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerry Seinfeld" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/when-you-interrupt-you-ve-stopped-listening-people-need-to-be-heard/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/when-you-interrupt-you-ve-stopped-listening-people-need-to-be-heard/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/jerry-seinfeld-880_communication_when-you-interrupt-you-ve-stopped-listen_2324000.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/jerry-seinfeld-880_communication_when-you-interrupt-you-ve-stopped-listen_2324000.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3e3/jerry-seinfeld-880_communication_when-you-interrupt-you-ve-stopped-listen_2324000.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you interrupt, you've stopped listening. People need to be heard.” — Jerry Seinfeld", "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": "Jerry Seinfeld", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-seinfeld/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you interrupt, you've stopped listening....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/when-you-interrupt-you-ve-stopped-listening-people-need-to-be-heard/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-seinfeld/when-you-interrupt-you-ve-stopped-listening-people-need-to-be-heard/#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 } } ] } ```