--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Conversation was never begun at once, nor…" description: "\"Conversation was never begun at once, nor in a hurried manner. No one was quick with a question, no matter how important, and no one was pressed for an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/luther-standing-bear-22443_answers_conversation-was-never-begun-at-once-nor_3157695.jpg" --- # Conversation was never begun at once, nor in a hurried… ![“Conversation was never begun at once, nor in a hurried manner. No one was quick with a question, no matter how important, and no one was pressed for an answer. A pause giving time for thought was the truly courteous way of beginning and conducting a conversation. Silence was meaningful with the…” quote by Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/luther-standing-bear-22443_answers_conversation-was-never-begun-at-once-nor_3157695.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/luther-standing-bear-22443_answers_conversation-was-never-begun-at-once-nor_3157695.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e06/luther-standing-bear-22443_answers_conversation-was-never-begun-at-once-nor_3157695.jpg) > “Conversation was never begun at once, nor in a hurried manner. No one was quick with a question, no matter how important, and no one was pressed for an answer. A pause giving time for thought was the truly courteous way of beginning and conducting a conversation. Silence was meaningful with the Lakota, and his granting a space of silence to the speech-maker and his own moment of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regard for the rule that, "thought comes before speech."” [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Polite conversation values pauses, allowing thought before speaking, reflecting respect and mindfulness. **In simple terms:** Pause before speaking shows respect. Key Takeaway Practice thoughtful listening and measured response. Themes respect mindfulness communication Mood reflective calm Type philosophical cultural When to use this quote - meetings - negotiations - teaching - public speaking Key Concepts Indigenous etiquette oral tradition Questions to Reflect On - How can silence improve understanding? - When is quick response more appropriate? A Different Perspective Modern fast-paced dialogue may find pauses uncomfortable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-time/) [Indian wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/indian-wisdom/) [Lakota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lakota/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Moment of silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moment-of-silence/) [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Native america](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-america/) [Native american](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american/) [Native american earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american-earth/) [Native american indian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/native-american-indian/) [Pauses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pauses/) [Politeness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politeness/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) [Silence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/silence/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Never waste your words on people who deserve silence. A meaningful silence is better than Your effort to influence a person who does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/never-waste-your-words-on-people-who-deserve-silence-a-meaningful/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [The most difficult thing to understand during conversation is silence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-most-difficult-thing-to-understand-during-conversation-is-silence/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“Why one reads is very important. If you don’t have a good reason, if it’s just for escape, that’s all right, it’s like taking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-grobel/why-one-reads-is-very-important-if-you-don-t-have-a-good-reason-if-it/) Lawrence Grobel > [Only to the white man was nature a 'wilderness'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/only-to-the-white-man-was-nature-a-wilderness/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Only to the white man was nature a "wilderness" and only to him was the land "infested" with "wild" animals and "savage" people. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/only-to-the-white-man-was-nature-a-wilderness-and-only-to-him-was-the/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [For the Lakota there was no wilderness. Nature was not dangerous but hospitable, not forbidding but friendly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/for-the-lakota-there-was-no-wilderness-nature-was-not-dangerous-but/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and winding streams with tangled growth as wild. Earth was beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/we-did-not-think-of-the-great-open-plains-the-beautiful-rolling-hills-2/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > ["Civilization" has been thrust upon me since the days of the reservations, and it has not added one whit to my sense of justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/civilization-has-been-thrust-upon-me-since-the-days-of-the/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old Lakota was wise. He knew that a man's heart away from nature becomes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-lakota-was-wise-he-knew-that-a-man-s-heart-away-from-nature/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-people-came-literally-to-love-the-soil-and-they-sat-or/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/knowledge-was-inherent-in-all-things-the-world-was-a-library/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart, away from nature, becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-lakota-was-wise-he-knew-that-man-s-heart-away-from-nature/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Silence is the Mother of Truth, for the silent man was ever to be trusted, while the man ever ready with speech was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/silence-is-the-mother-of-truth-for-the-silent-man-was-ever-to-be/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Kinship with all creatures of the earth, sky and water was a real and active principle. In the animal and bird world there existed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/kinship-with-all-creatures-of-the-earth-sky-and-water-was-a-real-and-2/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Silence is also speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/silence-is-also-speech/) Proverb ## More by Luther Standing Bear > ["Civilization" has been thrust upon me since the days of the reservations, and it has not added one whit to my sense of justice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/civilization-has-been-thrust-upon-me-since-the-days-of-the/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Men must be born and reborn to belong. Their bodies must be formed of the dust of their forefathers bones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/men-must-be-born-and-reborn-to-belong-their-bodies-must-be-formed-of/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Civilization has been thrust upon me... and it has not added one whit to my love for truth, honesty, and generosity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/civilization-has-been-thrust-upon-me-and-it-has-not-added-one-whit-to/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The man who sat on the ground in his tipi meditating on life and its meaning, accepting the kinship of all creatures and acknowledging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-man-who-sat-on-the-ground-in-his-tipi-meditating-on-life-and-its/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Silence is the Mother of Truth, for the silent man was ever to be trusted, while the man ever ready with speech was never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/silence-is-the-mother-of-truth-for-the-silent-man-was-ever-to-be/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old Lakota was wise. He knew that man's heart, away from nature, becomes hard; he knew that lack of respect for growing, living…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-lakota-was-wise-he-knew-that-man-s-heart-away-from-nature/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Knowledge was inherent in all things. The world was a library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/knowledge-was-inherent-in-all-things-the-world-was-a-library/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Certain small ways and observances sometimes have connection with large and more profound ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/certain-small-ways-and-observances-sometimes-have-connection-with/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-people-came-literally-to-love-the-soil-and-they-sat-or/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [The old Lakota was wise. He knew that a man's heart away from nature becomes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/the-old-lakota-was-wise-he-knew-that-a-man-s-heart-away-from-nature/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [After all the great religions have been preached and expounded, man is still confronted with the Great Mystery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/after-all-the-great-religions-have-been-preached-and-expounded-man-is/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [Training began with children who were taught to sit still and enjoy it. They were taught to use their organs of smell, to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/training-began-with-children-who-were-taught-to-sit-still-and-enjoy/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [It is the mothers not the warriors who create a people and guide their destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/it-is-the-mothers-not-the-warriors-who-create-a-people-and-guide/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [“There is a road in the hearts of all of us, hidden and seldom traveled, which leads to an unkown, secret place. The old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/there-is-a-road-in-the-hearts-of-all-of-us-hidden-and-seldom-traveled/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) > [We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and winding streams with tangled growth as wild. Earth was beautiful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luther-standing-bear/we-did-not-think-of-the-great-open-plains-the-beautiful-rolling-hills-2/) [Luther Standing Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) [Explore all 27 Luther Standing Bear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luther-standing-bear/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. 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Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [“As long as you keep searching,the answers will come.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kynock/as-long-as-you-keep-searching-the-answers-will-come/) [Mitch Kynock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kynock/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [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/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. 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