--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The habit of common and continuous speech…" description: "\"The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency. It proceeds from not knowing what is going on in other people's minds.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/walter-bagehot-3686_common_the-habit-of-common-and-continuous-speec_311349.png" --- # The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of… ![“The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency. It proceeds from not knowing what is going on in other people's minds.” quote by Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/walter-bagehot-3686_common_the-habit-of-common-and-continuous-speec_311349.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/walter-bagehot-3686_common_the-habit-of-common-and-continuous-speec_311349.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9b6/walter-bagehot-3686_common_the-habit-of-common-and-continuous-speec_311349.png) > “The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency. It proceeds from not knowing what is going on in other people's minds.” [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People who talk constantly often lack insight into others' thoughts, revealing a shallow understanding. **In simple terms:** Talkers may be ignorant of others' perspectives. Key Takeaway Listen more, speak less. Themes communication self-awareness empathy Mood reflective critical Type observational advisory When to use this quote - meetings - social gatherings - negotiations - team projects Key Concepts psychology social cognition Questions to Reflect On - How can you gauge when to speak versus listen? - What assumptions do you make about others' thoughts? A Different Perspective Constant talking can also be a sign of confidence, not just deficiency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Continuous Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/continuous-speech-2954075/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habit Common](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit-common-2954078/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [Mental Deficiency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-deficiency-2954076/) [Not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-knowing/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Speech Symptom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech-symptom-2781423/) [Symptom Mental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/symptom-mental-2954077/) ## Related quotes > [“The habit of common and continuous speech is a symptom of mental deficiency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-habit-of-common-and-continuous-speech-is-a-symptom-of-mental-2/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Speech is one symptom of affection; and silence one; the perfect communication is heard of none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/speech-is-one-symptom-of-affection-and-silence-one-the-perfect/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) > [Whenever you start working on something, you have to go about it with the underlying assumption that this puzzle has a solution, right? 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As the experience of the Unknown deepens, your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/when-you-rest-deeply-in-the-unknown-without-trying-to-escape-your/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [Those who are the most happy appear to know it the least; happiness is something that for the most part seems to mainly consist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-brothers/those-who-are-the-most-happy-appear-to-know-it-the-least-happiness-is/) [Joyce Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-brothers/) ## More by Walter Bagehot > [But of all nations in the world the English are perhaps the least a nation of pure philosophers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/but-of-all-nations-in-the-world-the-english-are-perhaps-the-least-a/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [The Sovereign has, under a constitutional monarchy such as ours, three rights - the right to be consulted, the right to encourage, the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-sovereign-has-under-a-constitutional-monarchy-such-as-ours-three/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [The most essential mental quality for a free people, whose liberty is to be progressive, permanent and on a large scale, is much stupidity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/the-most-essential-mental-quality-for-a-free-people-whose-liberty-is/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Adventure is the life of commerce, but caution is the life of banking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/adventure-is-the-life-of-commerce-but-caution-is-the-life-of-banking/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [A severe though not unfriendly critic of our institutions said that the cure for admiring the House of Lords was to go and look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/a-severe-though-not-unfriendly-critic-of-our-institutions-said-that/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Nothing is more unpleasant than a virtuous person with a mean mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/nothing-is-more-unpleasant-than-a-virtuous-person-with-a-mean-mind/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [What impresses men is not mind, but the result of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/what-impresses-men-is-not-mind-but-the-result-of-mind/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [An inability to stay quiet is one of the conspicuous failings of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-bagehot/an-inability-to-stay-quiet-is-one-of-the-conspicuous-failings-of/) [Walter Bagehot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-bagehot/) > [Most men of business think "Anyhow this system will probably last my time. 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