Accounts Quote by Laurence Sterne
![“Conversation is a traffick; and if you enter into it, without some stock of knowledge, to ballance the account perpetually betwixtyou,--the trade drops at once: and this is the reasonwhy travellers have so little [good] conversation with natives,--owing to their [the natives'] suspicionthat there…” quote by Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/40f/laurence-sterne-1405_accounts_conversation-is-a-traffick-and-if-you-en_280475.jpg)
“Conversation is a traffick; and if you enter into it, without some stock of knowledge, to ballance the account perpetually betwixtyou,--the trade drops at once: and this is the reasonwhy travellers have so little [good] conversation with natives,--owing to their [the natives'] suspicionthat there is nothing to be extracted from the conversationworth the trouble of their bad language.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: Tristram Shandy, 1759
Conversation requires knowledge to be balanced; without it, dialogue collapses and natives distrust outsiders.
In simple terms: Good talk needs knowledge; otherwise it fails.
Key Takeaway
Prepare and listen before speaking.
Themes
communication
knowledge
trust
culture
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- travel
- cross‑cultural meetings
- learning new languages
- networking
Key Concepts
epistemology
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you build trust in a new conversation?
- What knowledge helps bridge cultural gaps?
A Different Perspective
Assumes all natives are suspicious, which may not hold universally.
