--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The desire of advising has a very…" description: "\"The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence; and, since advice cannot be given but to those that will hear it, a patient listener is necessa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/samuel-johnson-50_accommodations_the-desire-of-advising-has-a-very-extens_794509.jpg" --- # The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence… ![“The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence; and, since advice cannot be given but to those that will hear it, a patient listener is necessary to the accommodation of all those who desire to be confirmed in the opinion of their own wisdom: a patient listener, however, is not always to…” quote by Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/samuel-johnson-50_accommodations_the-desire-of-advising-has-a-very-extens_794509.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/samuel-johnson-50_accommodations_the-desire-of-advising-has-a-very-extens_794509.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee4/samuel-johnson-50_accommodations_the-desire-of-advising-has-a-very-extens_794509.jpg) > “The desire of advising has a very extensive prevalence; and, since advice cannot be given but to those that will hear it, a patient listener is necessary to the accommodation of all those who desire to be confirmed in the opinion of their own wisdom: a patient listener, however, is not always to be had; the present age, whatever age is present, is so vitiated and disordered, that young people are readier to talk than to attend, and good counsel is only thrown away upon those who are full of their own perfections.” [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Highlights the rarity of patient listeners and the prevalence of self‑absorbed advice‑seekers. **In simple terms:** Patient listening is rare. Key Takeaway Cultivate patience when offering or receiving advice. Themes communication humility wisdom Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - mentoring - family discussions - team meetings - public debates Key Concepts active listening ego social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you become a better listener? - What hinders people from hearing counsel? A Different Perspective People often ignore advice they need. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Perfection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfection/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) ## Related quotes > [To impress your offer on the mind of the reader or listener, it is necessary to put it into brief, simple language...No farfetched or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-caples/to-impress-your-offer-on-the-mind-of-the-reader-or-listener-it-is/) [John Caples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-caples/) > [“Not everyone who eats imagines herself a dietician, but nearly everyone who has loved -- which is nearly everyone -- presumes to know something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-len-catron/not-everyone-who-eats-imagines-herself-a-dietician-but-nearly/) [Mandy Len Catron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-len-catron/) > [“And he would say, “Y’all come when you can,” which was of no substantial pith or import, but then he would add, “Be particular.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-conner-brown/and-he-would-say-y-all-come-when-you-can-which-was-of-no-substantial/) Jill Conner Brown > [One of the first pieces of advice I was ever given, on my first job was, you should always buy something to treat yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-claflin/one-of-the-first-pieces-of-advice-i-was-ever-given-on-my-first-job/) [Sam Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-claflin/) > [Writers and artists never pay attention to advice given by their elders, quite rightly. 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To find what peace you could, even if it excluded me from your life.” Ten years ago,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-tried-to-leave-you-alone-fitz-to-find-what-peace-you-could-even-if/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) ## More by Samuel Johnson > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Pound St. Paul's Church into atoms, and consider any single atom; it is to be sure, good for nothing; but put all these atoms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/pound-st-paul-s-church-into-atoms-and-consider-any-single-atom-it-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [You can never be wise unless you love reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/you-can-never-be-wise-unless-you-love-reading/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [If our aim is to praise, we should forget to criticize; if our aim is to criticize, we should remember to praise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/if-our-aim-is-to-praise-we-should-forget-to-criticize-if-our-aim-is/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [All theory is against free will; all experience is for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/all-theory-is-against-free-will-all-experience-is-for-it/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Had I learned to fiddle, I should have done nothing else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/had-i-learned-to-fiddle-i-should-have-done-nothing-else/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is as foolish to make experiments upon the constancy of a friend, as upon the chastity of a wife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/it-is-as-foolish-to-make-experiments-upon-the-constancy-of-a-friend/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Resolve not to be poor: whatever you have, spend less. 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