Communication Quote by John Cage
“We only hear what we listen for.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: 1975, The New York Times
Listening shapes perception; we notice what our attention seeks.
In simple terms: We hear what we focus on.
Key Takeaway
Pay attention to what matters.
Themes
perception
attention
communication
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- education
- media consumption
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
psychology
mindfulness
Questions to Reflect On
- What do you choose to listen for?
- How does selective listening affect relationships?
A Different Perspective
If we listen for negativity, we hear negativity.
![“It was at Harvard not quite forty years ago that I went into an anechoic [totally silent] chamber not expecting in that silent room to hear two sounds: one high, my nervous system in operation, one low, my blood in circulation. The reason I did not expect to hear those two sounds was that they…” quote by John Cage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/153/john-cage-2094_blood_it-was-at-harvard-not-quite-forty-years_56114.jpg)
