--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People in general attach too much…" description: "\"People in general attach too much importance to words. They are under the illusion that talking effects great results. As a matter of fact, words are, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/theodore-dreiser-8057_argument_people-in-general-attach-too-much-import_1887480.jpg" --- # People in general attach too much importance to words… ![“People in general attach too much importance to words. They are under the illusion that talking effects great results. As a matter of fact, words are, as a rule, the shallowest portion of all the argument. They but dimly represent the great surging feelings and desires which lie behind. When the…” quote by Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/theodore-dreiser-8057_argument_people-in-general-attach-too-much-import_1887480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/theodore-dreiser-8057_argument_people-in-general-attach-too-much-import_1887480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/theodore-dreiser-8057_argument_people-in-general-attach-too-much-import_1887480.jpg) > “People in general attach too much importance to words. They are under the illusion that talking effects great results. As a matter of fact, words are, as a rule, the shallowest portion of all the argument. They but dimly represent the great surging feelings and desires which lie behind. When the distraction of the tongue is removed, the heart listens.” [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words are shallow compared to the deep emotions they mask; true listening occurs when speech stops. **In simple terms:** Words hide deeper feelings; listening reveals them. Key Takeaway Listen beyond words. Themes communication empathy listening Mood introspective calm Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - counselling - relationships - team meetings Key Concepts psychology literature Questions to Reflect On - How do you practice active listening? - When is speaking necessary? A Different Perspective Silence may be misinterpreted as indifference. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Argument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) [Behinds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behinds/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Distraction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction/) [Distraction Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distraction-tongue-2704483/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Illusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/illusion/) [Importance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance/) [Importance Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/importance-words-1731733/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Matter of fact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter-of-fact/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Portions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/portions/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking/) [Talking Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-effects-2704484/) [Tongue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tongue/) [Too much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-much/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Words Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-rule-2400321/) ## Related quotes > [“When people throw at you with toxic words; Rule number one: do not set any equivalent actions. Do not give back as you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/when-people-throw-at-you-with-toxic-words-rule-number-one-do-not-set/) [Sir Kristian Goldmund Aumann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-kristian-goldmund-aumann/) > [“My thoughts have become words rule the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/my-thoughts-have-become-words-rule-the-world/) [Anyaele Sam Chiyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anyaele-sam-chiyson/) > [RUDE words RULE..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/rude-words-rule/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Words rule the World.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kishore-bansal/words-rule-the-world/) [Kishore Bansal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kishore-bansal/) > [To be sure, Kennedy did not discount the importance of words in rallying the nation to meet its foreign and domestic challenges. Winston Churchill's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-dallek/to-be-sure-kennedy-did-not-discount-the-importance-of-words-in/) [Robert Dallek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-dallek/) > [I don't place too much importance on words. It's always the last thing I do because I'm definitely more interested in mood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-tatum/i-don-t-place-too-much-importance-on-words-it-s-always-the-last-thing/) [Jack Tatum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-tatum/) > [“There is so much in a turn of the eye and in the tone given to a word when such things have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/there-is-so-much-in-a-turn-of-the-eye-and-in-the-tone-given-to-a-word/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [It is no small mischief to a boy, that many of the best years of his life should be devoted to the learning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cobbett/it-is-no-small-mischief-to-a-boy-that-many-of-the-best-years-of-his/) [William Cobbett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cobbett/) > [“After years of not speaking, I understood the importance of words. How they had the power to hurt individuals, yet they also had the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/after-years-of-not-speaking-i-understood-the-importance-of-words-how/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [What? Had a dry spell of killing people lately? (Susan) As a matter of fact, yes. If it doesn’t end soon, I might get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/what-had-a-dry-spell-of-killing-people-lately-susan-as-a-matter-of/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a matter of fact, even when I finished law school, I had no notion of public service then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-dinkins/as-a-matter-of-fact-even-when-i-finished-law-school-i-had-no-notion/) [David Dinkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-dinkins/) > [As a matter of fact, compromise is what oppression feeds on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-belafonte/as-a-matter-of-fact-compromise-is-what-oppression-feeds-on/) [Harry Belafonte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-belafonte/) > [Just live that life. It doesn't matter whether it is life or hell, life of the hungry ghost, life of the animal, it's okay;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taizan-maezumi/just-live-that-life-it-doesn-t-matter-whether-it-is-life-or-hell-life/) [Taizan Maezumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taizan-maezumi/) > [“Lately, it had been an endless procession of long, black nights and gray mornings, when her sense of failure swept over her like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fannie-flagg/lately-it-had-been-an-endless-procession-of-long-black-nights-and/) [Fannie Flagg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fannie-flagg/) > [Experiences in order to be educative must lead out into an expanding world of subject matter, a subject matter of facts or information and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/experiences-in-order-to-be-educative-must-lead-out-into-an-expanding/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) ## More by Theodore Dreiser > [A real flame of love is a subtle thing. It burns as a will-o'-the-wisp, dancing onward to fairy lands of delight. It roars as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/a-real-flame-of-love-is-a-subtle-thing-it-burns-as-a-will-o-the-wisp/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“Cowperwood was shocked by the nudity of the Venus which conveyed an atmosphere of European freedom not common to America;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/cowperwood-was-shocked-by-the-nudity-of-the-venus-which-conveyed-an/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“...the past was so painful at any point. It seared and burned.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/the-past-was-so-painful-at-any-point-it-seared-and-burned/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“His eyes expressed the difficulty he felt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/his-eyes-expressed-the-difficulty-he-felt/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“Who were these people with money, and what had they done that they should enjoy so much luxury, where others as good seemingly as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/who-were-these-people-with-money-and-what-had-they-done-that-they/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [To the untraveled, territory other than their own familiar heath is invariably fascinating. Next to love it is the one thing that solaces and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/to-the-untraveled-territory-other-than-their-own-familiar-heath-is/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [The true meaning of money yet remains to be popularly explained and comprehended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/the-true-meaning-of-money-yet-remains-to-be-popularly-explained-and/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“now. If any habits ever had time to fix upon her, they would have operated here. Habits are peculiar things. They will drive the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/now-if-any-habits-ever-had-time-to-fix-upon-her-they-would-have/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“Here were these two, bandying little phrases, drawing purses, looking at cards, and both unconscious of how inarticulate all their real feelings were. Neither…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/here-were-these-two-bandying-little-phrases-drawing-purses-looking-at/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [Assure a man that he has a soul and then frighten him with old wives' tales as to what is to become of him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/assure-a-man-that-he-has-a-soul-and-then-frighten-him-with-old-wives/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [If we are to extract any joy out of our span, we must think and plan and make things better not only for ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/if-we-are-to-extract-any-joy-out-of-our-span-we-must-think-and-plan/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“In your rocking-chair, by your window dreaming, shall you long, alone. In your rocking- chair, by your window, shall you dream such happiness as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/in-your-rocking-chair-by-your-window-dreaming-shall-you-long-alone-in/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [“Carrie felt this as a personal reproof. She read "Dora Thorne," or had a great deal in the past. It seemed only fair to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/carrie-felt-this-as-a-personal-reproof-she-read-dora-thorne-or-had-a/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [You walk into a room, see a woman, and something happens. It's chemical. What are you going to do about it?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/you-walk-into-a-room-see-a-woman-and-something-happens-it-s-chemical/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) > [Theodore Dreiser Should ought to write nicer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/theodore-dreiser-should-ought-to-write-nicer/) [Theodore Dreiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) [Explore all 82 Theodore Dreiser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/) ## More Argument quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [Lutherans, whose arguments and mistakes will not be difficult to contest or discover, do not want to attribute any value to works, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-servetus/lutherans-whose-arguments-and-mistakes-will-not-be-difficult-to/) [Michael Servetus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-servetus/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There could be no more powerful argument against mixing religion and government than the success of independent African American churches in placing racial segregation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jacoby/there-could-be-no-more-powerful-argument-against-mixing-religion-and/) [Susan Jacoby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jacoby/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [On the stage, the characters express themselves more through words than images. So the arguments of the characters and the tension between characters -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-alda/on-the-stage-the-characters-express-themselves-more-through-words/) [Alan Alda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-alda/) > [One argument goes that recessions are good for female artists because when money flies out the window, women are allowed in the house. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/one-argument-goes-that-recessions-are-good-for-female-artists-because/) [Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) > [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [If in the middle of an argument I suddenly fall silent it does not mean you have won... No it means you should probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/if-in-the-middle-of-an-argument-i-suddenly-fall-silent-it-does-not/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [Don't get divorced after your first argument! I have a lot of friends that have one fight and that's it, they get divorced. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-ripa/don-t-get-divorced-after-your-first-argument-i-have-a-lot-of-friends/) [Kelly Ripa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-ripa/) > [“The motive behind my arguments have always been to come at truth. I am not interested in conquering anyone with my ideologies or seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-evans/the-motive-behind-my-arguments-have-always-been-to-come-at-truth-i-am/) [Crystal Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-evans/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) [Browse all 3,479 Argument quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/argument/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People in general attach too much importance to words. They are under the illusion that talking effects great results. As a matter of fact, words are, as a rule, the shallowest portion of all the argument. They but dimly represent the great surging feelings and desires which lie behind. When the distraction of the tongue is removed, the heart listens.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Theodore Dreiser" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/people-in-general-attach-too-much-importance-to-words-they-are-under/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Argument" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/people-in-general-attach-too-much-importance-to-words-they-are-under/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/theodore-dreiser-8057_argument_people-in-general-attach-too-much-import_1887480.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/theodore-dreiser-8057_argument_people-in-general-attach-too-much-import_1887480.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/theodore-dreiser-8057_argument_people-in-general-attach-too-much-import_1887480.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People in general attach too much importance to words. They are under the illusion that talking effects…” — Theodore Dreiser", "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": "Theodore Dreiser", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-dreiser/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People in general attach too much...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/people-in-general-attach-too-much-importance-to-words-they-are-under/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-dreiser/people-in-general-attach-too-much-importance-to-words-they-are-under/#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 } } ] } ```