--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You learned this tactic from Colin…" description: "\"“You learned this tactic from Colin, didn’t you? He used to say, ‘Ask a question, then keep your mouth shut and wait for the other fellow to give in an..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/p-b-ryan-39947_ask-a-question_you-learned-this-tactic-from-colin-didn_624379.jpg" --- # You learned this tactic from Colin, didn’t you? He used to… ![“You learned this tactic from Colin, didn’t you? He used to say, ‘Ask a question, then keep your mouth shut and wait for the other fellow to give in and start talking. Most folks can’t bear to sit and look at each other with no words to fill the air.” quote by P.B. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/p-b-ryan-39947_ask-a-question_you-learned-this-tactic-from-colin-didn_624379.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/p-b-ryan-39947_ask-a-question_you-learned-this-tactic-from-colin-didn_624379.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05b/p-b-ryan-39947_ask-a-question_you-learned-this-tactic-from-colin-didn_624379.jpg) > ““You learned this tactic from Colin, didn’t you? He used to say, ‘Ask a question, then keep your mouth shut and wait for the other fellow to give in and start talking. Most folks can’t bear to sit and look at each other with no words to fill the air.”” [P.B. Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-b-ryan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The tactic of asking a question then staying silent forces the other person to fill the silence, revealing their thoughts. **In simple terms:** Silence after a question compels response. Key Takeaway Use strategic silence in dialogue. Themes communication dialogue silence psychology interrogation Mood thoughtful analytical Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - negotiations - interviews - conflict resolution - teaching Key Concepts strategic questioning active listening Questions to Reflect On - When have you used silence effectively? - What risks does this tactic carry? A Different Perspective Silence may cause discomfort or be misinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask A Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-a-question/) ## Related quotes > [“The specific use of folks as an exclusionary and inclusionary signal, designed to make the speaker sound like one of the boys or girls,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/the-specific-use-of-folks-as-an-exclusionary-and-inclusionary-signal/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [I think that's one of the greatest gifts that I have: that I can get someone to open up, and all you have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karamo-brown/i-think-that-s-one-of-the-greatest-gifts-that-i-have-that-i-can-get/) [Karamo Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karamo-brown/) > [It's not appropriate to pass judgment when we specifically ask people to voice their opinions... even if you ask a question and agree with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-goldsmith/it-s-not-appropriate-to-pass-judgment-when-we-specifically-ask-people/) [Marshall Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-goldsmith/) > [That's what the world is like: people talk as if they knew everything, but ifyou dare to ask a question, they don't know anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/that-s-what-the-world-is-like-people-talk-as-if-they-knew-everything/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Writing helps us heal in certain way, but it doesn't make the experience of thinking about writing that occasion any less painful. 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And even more humility to consider the answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/it-takes-humility-to-ask-a-question-about-your-performance-and-even/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [Writing helps us heal in certain way, but it doesn't make the experience of thinking about writing that occasion any less painful. 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