--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You have two ears and one mouth. Use them…" description: "\"You have two ears and one mouth. Use them accordingly.\" — Stephen Covey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfe/stephen-covey-339_ears_you-have-two-ears-and-one-mouth-use-them_2899372.png" --- # You have two ears and one mouth. Use them accordingly. ![“You have two ears and one mouth. Use them accordingly.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfe/stephen-covey-339_ears_you-have-two-ears-and-one-mouth-use-them_2899372.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfe/stephen-covey-339_ears_you-have-two-ears-and-one-mouth-use-them_2899372.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bfe/stephen-covey-339_ears_you-have-two-ears-and-one-mouth-use-them_2899372.png) > “You have two ears and one mouth. Use them accordingly.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Listen more than you speak; balance hearing with speaking to act wisely. **In simple terms:** Listen more, speak less. Key Takeaway Prioritize listening before responding. Themes communication self‑control wisdom Mood thoughtful balanced Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - personal relationships - conflict resolution Key Concepts active listening mindful speech Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure listening leads to effective action? - When does speaking become necessary? A Different Perspective Over‑emphasis on listening can hinder decisive action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Ears Mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears-mouth-516471/) [Mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth/) [Mouth Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouth-use-4114272/) [Mouths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mouths/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two ears and one mouth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-ears-and-one-mouth-196308/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Accordingly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-accordingly-4114273/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a good listener, you know. My gran used to say that's why you've got two ears and one mouth. I just truly love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-reid/i-m-a-good-listener-you-know-my-gran-used-to-say-that-s-why-you-ve/) [Johnny Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-reid/) > [I learned real early why God gave us two ears and one mouth, because you're supposed to listen twice as much as you talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-jones/i-learned-real-early-why-god-gave-us-two-ears-and-one-mouth-because/) [Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-jones/) > [I'd say the best way to train someone is to remember that you have two ears and one mouth, and use them in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-d-smith/i-d-say-the-best-way-to-train-someone-is-to-remember-that-you-have/) [Brad D. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-d-smith/) > [When you are in it up to your ears, keep your mouth shut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-duhamel/when-you-are-in-it-up-to-your-ears-keep-your-mouth-shut/) [Georges Duhamel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-duhamel/) > [We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/epictetus/we-have-two-ears-and-one-mouth-so-that-we-can-listen-twice-as-much-as/) [Epictetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/epictetus/) > [“We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/as-quoted-by-diogenes-la-rtius-zeno-of-citium/we-have-two-ears-and-one-mouth-so-we-should-listen-more-than-we-say/) [as quoted by Diogenes Laërtius Zeno of Citium](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/as-quoted-by-diogenes-la-rtius-zeno-of-citium/) > [“Listen, you've got two ears and one mouth, they've got the majority so shut up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-colman/listen-you-ve-got-two-ears-and-one-mouth-they-ve-got-the-majority-so/) [Paul Colman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-colman/) > [The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-reason-why-we-have-two-ears-and-only-one-mouth-is-that-we-may/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [we have two ears and one mouth and we should use them proportionally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-cain/we-have-two-ears-and-one-mouth-and-we-should-use-them-proportionally/) [Susan Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-cain/) > [God gave us two ears and only one mouth for a reason: so we would learn to speak up!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-alejandro-king/god-gave-us-two-ears-and-only-one-mouth-for-a-reason-so-we-would/) [John Alejandro King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-alejandro-king/) > [“Listening is more important than talking. If that was not true, God would not have given us two ears and only one mouth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/listening-is-more-important-than-talking-if-that-was-not-true-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We have two ears and one mouth, therefore we should listen twice as much as we speak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeno/we-have-two-ears-and-one-mouth-therefore-we-should-listen-twice-as/) [Zeno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeno/) > [All we have to do is listen. The Good Lord gave us two ears and only one mouth, my dear white-headed mother used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/all-we-have-to-do-is-listen-the-good-lord-gave-us-two-ears-and-only/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [God gave people 2 ears and 1 mouth because He wants us to listen twice as much as we talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-harris/god-gave-people-2-ears-and-1-mouth-because-he-wants-us-to-listen/) [Joshua Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-harris/) > [God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we can hear twice as much as we say](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-gave-us-two-ears-and-one-mouth-so-we-can-hear-twice-as-much-as-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Ears quotes > [The more perfect the sight is the more delightful the beautiful object. The more perfect the appetite, the sweeter the food. The more musical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-baxter/the-more-perfect-the-sight-is-the-more-delightful-the-beautiful/) [Richard Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-baxter/) > [I am convinced that we will never build a democratic state based on rule of law if we do not at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaclav-havel/i-am-convinced-that-we-will-never-build-a-democratic-state-based-on/) [Vaclav Havel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaclav-havel/) > [Story is about pulling the reader in and a plot is a more externalized mechanism of revelation. A plot is more antic, more performative,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/story-is-about-pulling-the-reader-in-and-a-plot-is-a-more/) [Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/) > [The nineteenth century lynching mob cuts off ears, toes, and fingers, strips off flesh, and distributes portions of the body as souvenirs among the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ida-b-wells/the-nineteenth-century-lynching-mob-cuts-off-ears-toes-and-fingers/) [Ida B. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ida-b-wells/) > [Somehow the river is louder when you cover your ears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-williams/somehow-the-river-is-louder-when-you-cover-your-ears/) [Niall Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niall-williams/) > [I started off playing by ear, and being around a bunch of musicians and playing in the streets and in the different parades and,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/troy-andrews/i-started-off-playing-by-ear-and-being-around-a-bunch-of-musicians/) [Troy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/troy-andrews/) > [Well the first time I performed, my mom was like how she is now when sees me on stage – all red, smiling from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-brown/well-the-first-time-i-performed-my-mom-was-like-how-she-is-now-when/) [Chris Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-brown/) > [Men trust rather to their eyes than to their ears; the effect of precepts is therefore slow and tedious, whilst that of examples is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/men-trust-rather-to-their-eyes-than-to-their-ears-the-effect-of/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Every wife ought to answer for her man. If the husband be engaged in a seditious club, or drinks mysterious healths, or be frugal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/every-wife-ought-to-answer-for-her-man-if-the-husband-be-engaged-in-a/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [Words are substance strange. Speak one and the air ripples into another's ears. Write one and the eye laps it up. But the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-beachy-quick/words-are-substance-strange-speak-one-and-the-air-ripples-into/) [Dan Beachy-Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-beachy-quick/) > [I had never done anything with blue screen before, or prosthetics, or anything like that. Lord of the Rings was like stepping into a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/i-had-never-done-anything-with-blue-screen-before-or-prosthetics-or/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The more that you act on your intuition fearlessly, the more your intuition will serve you. Intuition is the ear of the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/the-more-that-you-act-on-your-intuition-fearlessly-the-more-your/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [it'll be this kind of deep blue”she said. “The kind of color that somehow sucks your eyes and your ears and all your words…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banana-yoshimoto/it-ll-be-this-kind-of-deep-blue-she-said-the-kind-of-color-that/) [Banana Yoshimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banana-yoshimoto/) > [Flat muscled and honey coloured. Sea secrets in his eyes. A silver raindrop in his ear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/flat-muscled-and-honey-coloured-sea-secrets-in-his-eyes-a-silver/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) [Browse all 2,987 Ears quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You have two ears and one mouth. 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