--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A good talker is sensitive to expression…" description: "\"“A good talker is sensitive to expression, to tone and color and inflection in human speech. Because he himself is articulate, he can help others to ar..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/sydney-j-harris-1578_communication_a-good-talker-is-sensitive-to-expression_3097103.png" --- # A good talker is sensitive to expression, to tone and… ![“A good talker is sensitive to expression, to tone and color and inflection in human speech. Because he himself is articulate, he can help others to articulate their half-formulated feelings. His mind fills in the gaps, and he becomes, in Socrates’ words, a kind of midwife for ideas that are…” quote by Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/sydney-j-harris-1578_communication_a-good-talker-is-sensitive-to-expression_3097103.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/sydney-j-harris-1578_communication_a-good-talker-is-sensitive-to-expression_3097103.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/sydney-j-harris-1578_communication_a-good-talker-is-sensitive-to-expression_3097103.png) > ““A good talker is sensitive to expression, to tone and color and inflection in human speech. Because he himself is articulate, he can help others to articulate their half-formulated feelings. His mind fills in the gaps, and he becomes, in Socrates’ words, a kind of midwife for ideas that are struggling to be born.”” [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A skilled conversationalist listens deeply, fills gaps, and helps others articulate nascent thoughts, acting as a catalyst for intellectual birth. **In simple terms:** Good talkers help others express unfinished ideas. Key Takeaway Be a supportive listener who nurtures others' thoughts. Themes communication mentorship intellectual growth listening facilitation Mood thoughtful encouraging analytical Type educational philosophical When to use this quote - brainstorming sessions - therapy - teaching - creative workshops Key Concepts dialogue cognitive scaffolding Socratic method Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure you’re facilitating, not dominating? - What boundaries protect authentic voice? A Different Perspective May risk imposing one's own interpretations on others' ideas. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Good Talker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-talker-699446/) [Help Articulate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-articulate-5351698/) [Help others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-others/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Speech Articulate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech-articulate-5351697/) [Talker Sensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talker-sensitive-5351696/) ## Related quotes > [The collaborator has to be someone who understands that his role is to help you articulate what you want, but at the same time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-toback/the-collaborator-has-to-be-someone-who-understands-that-his-role-is/) [James Toback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-toback/) > [There's only one rule for being a good talker: learn to listen. We do not always need a mind that speaks, just a patient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bakare/there-s-only-one-rule-for-being-a-good-talker-learn-to-listen-we-do/) [Bakare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bakare/) > [A good listener is not someone with nothing to say. A good listener is a good talker with a sore throat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-whitehorn/a-good-listener-is-not-someone-with-nothing-to-say-a-good-listener-is/) [Katharine Whitehorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-whitehorn/) > [I used to always crack jokes in class. I was a good liar and a good talker. I was just good. I was my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/i-used-to-always-crack-jokes-in-class-i-was-a-good-liar-and-a-good/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [A good listener is very nearly as attractive as a good talker. You cannot have a beautiful mind if you do not know how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-de-bono/a-good-listener-is-very-nearly-as-attractive-as-a-good-talker-you/) [Edward de Bono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-de-bono/) > [Jeb Bush says he's not a good - why would he admit that? I watched him. I'm not an entertainer. He goes, I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/jeb-bush-says-he-s-not-a-good-why-would-he-admit-that-i-watched-him-i/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [“A good listener is a good talker with a sore throat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-whitehorn/a-good-listener-is-a-good-talker-with-a-sore-throat/) [Katherine Whitehorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-whitehorn/) > [I'm not a good talker, I'm a good fighter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-st-pierre/i-m-not-a-good-talker-i-m-a-good-fighter/) [Georges St-Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-st-pierre/) > [I'm not a good talker, I'm a great talker because I do it so often over a long period of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/i-m-not-a-good-talker-i-m-a-great-talker-because-i-do-it-so-often/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [If I'm not a good talker, so be it, but my record will speak for itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-assuncao/if-i-m-not-a-good-talker-so-be-it-but-my-record-will-speak-for-itself/) [Raphael Assuncao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-assuncao/) > [A good talker, even more than a good orator, implies a good audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-stephen/a-good-talker-even-more-than-a-good-orator-implies-a-good-audience/) [Leslie Stephen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-stephen/) > [There is only one rule for being a good talker - learn to listen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-morley/there-is-only-one-rule-for-being-a-good-talker-learn-to-listen/) [Christopher Morley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-morley/) > [Nigel Farage has got some strengths. He really connects with people. He is a very good talker. I find him very affable. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-esler/nigel-farage-has-got-some-strengths-he-really-connects-with-people-he/) [Gavin Esler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-esler/) > [I don't consider myself a very good talker or writer but a pretty good filmmaker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-gibney/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-very-good-talker-or-writer-but-a-pretty/) [Alex Gibney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-gibney/) > [People who won't help others in trouble "because they got into trouble through their own fault" would probably not throw a lifeline to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/people-who-won-t-help-others-in-trouble-because-they-got-into-trouble/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## More by Sydney J. Harris > [This is a lesson mankind has not yet learned. We identify, and stratify, and treat persons largely on the basis of their accidental (physical)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/this-is-a-lesson-mankind-has-not-yet-learned-we-identify-and-stratify/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Character is something you forge for yourself; temperament is something you are born with and can only slightly modify.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/character-is-something-you-forge-for-yourself-temperament-is/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Middle Age is that perplexing time of life when we hear two voices calling us, one saying, 'Why not?' and the other, 'Why bother?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/middle-age-is-that-perplexing-time-of-life-when-we-hear-two-voices/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [The profound immoralities of our time are cruelty, indifference, injustice and the use of others as means rather than ends in themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-profound-immoralities-of-our-time-are-cruelty-indifference/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Marriages we regard as the happiest are those in which each of the partners believes he or she got the best of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/marriages-we-regard-as-the-happiest-are-those-in-which-each-of-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“...it calls for deciding things on their own merit, not because you read it or were told it or grew up believing it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/it-calls-for-deciding-things-on-their-own-merit-not-because-you-read/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Ignorance per se is not nearly as dangerous as ignorance of ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/ignorance-per-se-is-not-nearly-as-dangerous-as-ignorance-of-ignorance/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Patriotism is proud of a country's virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/patriotism-is-proud-of-a-country-s-virtues-and-eager-to-correct-its/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past, his is also one who is permanently disappointed in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/a-cynic-is-not-merely-one-who-reads-bitter-lessons-from-the-past-his/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Time is love, above all else. It is the most precious commodity in the world and should be lavished on those we care most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/time-is-love-above-all-else-it-is-the-most-precious-commodity-in-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Just about the only interruption we don't object to is applause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/just-about-the-only-interruption-we-don-t-object-to-is-applause/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“The cynic is goodhearted beneath his facade, whereas the sentimentalist is flint-hearted beneath his.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-cynic-is-goodhearted-beneath-his-facade-whereas-the/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Any philosophy that can be put in a nutshell belongs there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/any-philosophy-that-can-be-put-in-a-nutshell-belongs-there/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [“Like all persecuted minority groups, they strike back by forming cabals, by “taking over” certain spheres of activity (in the arts, for instance), and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/like-all-persecuted-minority-groups-they-strike-back-by-forming/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [Intolerance is the most socially acceptable form of egotism, for it permits us to assume superiority without personal boasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/intolerance-is-the-most-socially-acceptable-form-of-egotism-for-it/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) [Explore all 226 Sydney J. Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) ## More Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/) [John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/) > [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/) [Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/) [Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/) > [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/) [Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [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/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/) [Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/) > [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/) [Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/) > [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/) [Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/) > [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/) [Yoram Wind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoram-wind/) > [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. 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": "“A good talker is sensitive to expression, to tone and color and inflection in human speech. Because he himself is articulate, he can help others to articulate their half-formulated feelings. His mind fills in the gaps, and he becomes, in Socrates’ words, a kind of midwife for ideas that are struggling to be born.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sydney J. Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/a-good-talker-is-sensitive-to-expression-to-tone-and-color-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communication" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/a-good-talker-is-sensitive-to-expression-to-tone-and-color-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/sydney-j-harris-1578_communication_a-good-talker-is-sensitive-to-expression_3097103.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/sydney-j-harris-1578_communication_a-good-talker-is-sensitive-to-expression_3097103.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/516/sydney-j-harris-1578_communication_a-good-talker-is-sensitive-to-expression_3097103.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A good talker is sensitive to expression, to tone and color and inflection in human speech. Because he…” — Sydney J. Harris", "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": "Sydney J. Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A good talker is sensitive to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/a-good-talker-is-sensitive-to-expression-to-tone-and-color-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/a-good-talker-is-sensitive-to-expression-to-tone-and-color-and/#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 } } ] } ```