--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Very few people would listen if they…" description: "\"Very few people would listen if they didn't know it was their turn next\" — Robert Conklin" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/robert-conklin-50775_communication_very-few-people-would-listen-if-they-did_1172013.jpg" --- # Very few people would listen if they didn't know it was… ![“Very few people would listen if they didn't know it was their turn next” quote by Robert Conklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/robert-conklin-50775_communication_very-few-people-would-listen-if-they-did_1172013.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/robert-conklin-50775_communication_very-few-people-would-listen-if-they-did_1172013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/robert-conklin-50775_communication_very-few-people-would-listen-if-they-did_1172013.jpg) > “Very few people would listen if they didn't know it was their turn next” [Robert Conklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It warns that people often ignore others unless they see a personal benefit or imminent opportunity. **In simple terms:** People only listen when they think it benefits them. Key Takeaway Consider others’ needs before assuming self‑interest. Themes self‑interest communication empathy Mood reflective cautious Type advice observational When to use this quote - team meetings - negotiations - customer service - leadership - networking Key Concepts social dynamics reciprocity Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure you truly hear others? - What strategies help balance self‑interest with empathy? A Different Perspective May overlook genuine concerns of others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Know Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know-turn-988533/) [Listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen/) [Listen Didn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listen-didn-3401498/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [People Listen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-listen/) [Turn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turn/) ## Related quotes > [That awkward moment when you see someone that looks like somebody you know and you call out their name and they turn around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sk/that-awkward-moment-when-you-see-someone-that-looks-like-somebody-you/) [Sk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sk/) > [Now I know why you're never there. Now it's my turn, watch me disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fefe-dobson/now-i-know-why-you-re-never-there-now-it-s-my-turn-watch-me-disappear/) [Fefe Dobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fefe-dobson/) > [When you go, 'Listen, I didn't know. I didn't know the rules.' That works. That's a good, solid defense. One time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chael-sonnen/when-you-go-listen-i-didn-t-know-i-didn-t-know-the-rules-that-works/) [Chael Sonnen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chael-sonnen/) > [“Ask you to keep an eye on her, keep her safe, and you allow my child to be used in that!" "Flatten your fur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamora-pierce/ask-you-to-keep-an-eye-on-her-keep-her-safe-and-you-allow-my-child-to/) [Tamora Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamora-pierce/) > [I did try to come back and listen You never it..I didn't wish it But I did hear every answer ever question It's all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stevie-nicks/i-did-try-to-come-back-and-listen-you-never-it-i-didn-t-wish-it-but-i/) [Stevie Nicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stevie-nicks/) > [No man would listen to you talk if he didn't know it was his turn next.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-w-howe/no-man-would-listen-to-you-talk-if-he-didn-t-know-it-was-his-turn-next/) [E. W. Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-w-howe/) > [Listening well is an exercise of attention and by necessity hard work. It is because they do not realize this or because they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-scott-peck/listening-well-is-an-exercise-of-attention-and-by-necessity-hard-work/) [M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-scott-peck/) > [What is important to me is that when I write something, people listen to me. I provide my wisdom to people, whether they agree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouriel-roubini/what-is-important-to-me-is-that-when-i-write-something-people-listen/) [Nouriel Roubini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouriel-roubini/) > [When you have a stroke, you must talk slowly to be understood, and I've discovered that when I talk slowly, people listen. They think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/when-you-have-a-stroke-you-must-talk-slowly-to-be-understood-and-i-ve/) [Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/) > [Healing happens when people listen to us and when we listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-rosenthal/healing-happens-when-people-listen-to-us-and-when-we-listen-to-them/) [Joshua Rosenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-rosenthal/) > [So how do people listen to music? How do the broad masses listen to it? Apparently they have to be able to cling to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-webern/so-how-do-people-listen-to-music-how-do-the-broad-masses-listen-to-it/) [Anton Webern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-webern/) > [I know who famous people are, so I listen to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poppy/i-know-who-famous-people-are-so-i-listen-to-them/) [Poppy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poppy/) > [I try to use my voice. I know that celebrity is valuable, and people do listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/i-try-to-use-my-voice-i-know-that-celebrity-is-valuable-and-people-do/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [The people that only listen to one song from a record and flip around that much, if that's the only way they listen to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-daniel/the-people-that-only-listen-to-one-song-from-a-record-and-flip-around/) [Britt Daniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-daniel/) > [Many people may listen, but few people actually hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harvey-mackay/many-people-may-listen-but-few-people-actually-hear/) [Harvey Mackay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harvey-mackay/) ## More by Robert Conklin > [Resistance is thought transformed into feeling. Change the thought that creates the resistance, and there is no more resistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conklin/resistance-is-thought-transformed-into-feeling-change-the-thought/) [Robert Conklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conklin/) > [Dreams get you into the future and add excitement to the present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conklin/dreams-get-you-into-the-future-and-add-excitement-to-the-present/) [Robert Conklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conklin/) > [If you make the unconditional commitment to reach your most important goals, if the strength of your decision is sufficient, you will find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conklin/if-you-make-the-unconditional-commitment-to-reach-your-most-important/) [Robert Conklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conklin/) > [It's not the situation... It's your reaction to the situation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conklin/it-s-not-the-situation-it-s-your-reaction-to-the-situation/) [Robert Conklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conklin/) > [I have found that most of the things I want from living I must get from people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conklin/i-have-found-that-most-of-the-things-i-want-from-living-i-must-get/) [Robert Conklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conklin/) > [People want riches; they need fulfillment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conklin/people-want-riches-they-need-fulfillment/) [Robert Conklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conklin/) [Explore all 7 Robert Conklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conklin/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) [Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Very few people would listen if they didn't know it was their turn next", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Conklin" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conklin/very-few-people-would-listen-if-they-didn-t-know-it-was-their-turn/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conklin/very-few-people-would-listen-if-they-didn-t-know-it-was-their-turn/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/robert-conklin-50775_communication_very-few-people-would-listen-if-they-did_1172013.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/robert-conklin-50775_communication_very-few-people-would-listen-if-they-did_1172013.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b75/robert-conklin-50775_communication_very-few-people-would-listen-if-they-did_1172013.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Very few people would listen if they didn't know it was their turn next” — Robert Conklin", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert Conklin", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conklin/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Very few people would listen if...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conklin/very-few-people-would-listen-if-they-didn-t-know-it-was-their-turn/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conklin/very-few-people-would-listen-if-they-didn-t-know-it-was-their-turn/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```