Business Quote by Jonathan Swift
“One of the best rules in conversation is, never to say a thing which any of the company can reasonably wish had been left unsaid”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Spectator, 1711
Good conversation avoids topics that might offend or embarrass listeners.
In simple terms: Don’t say things people might regret hearing.
Key Takeaway
Think before you speak.
Themes
communication
etiquette
social awareness
Mood
considerate
reflective
Type
advice
social.
When to use this quote
- dinner parties
- business meetings
- online forums
- family gatherings
Key Concepts
politeness
social dynamics
reputation management
Questions to Reflect On
- What topics could you safely omit?
- How do you balance honesty and tact?
A Different Perspective
May suppress honest expression if overused.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
![“If the State does not acquire supremacy over [vast private] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State.” quote by Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/bad/bertrand-russell-69_acquire_if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy_1379.jpg)