--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The pith of conversation does not consist…" description: "\"The pith of conversation does not consist in exhibiting your own superior knowledge on matters of small consequence, but in enlarging, improving and co..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/walter-scott-775_authority_the-pith-of-conversation-does-not-consis_1635173.jpg" --- # The pith of conversation does not consist in exhibiting… ![“The pith of conversation does not consist in exhibiting your own superior knowledge on matters of small consequence, but in enlarging, improving and correcting the information you possess by the authority of others.” quote by Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/walter-scott-775_authority_the-pith-of-conversation-does-not-consis_1635173.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/walter-scott-775_authority_the-pith-of-conversation-does-not-consis_1635173.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/abe/walter-scott-775_authority_the-pith-of-conversation-does-not-consis_1635173.jpg) > “The pith of conversation does not consist in exhibiting your own superior knowledge on matters of small consequence, but in enlarging, improving and correcting the information you possess by the authority of others.” [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Conversation should aim to broaden knowledge through others’ insights, not merely showcase personal expertise on trivial matters. **In simple terms:** Talk to learn, not to show off. Key Takeaway Listen and learn from others. Themes communication humility learning Mood thoughtful instructive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - team meetings - educational workshops - peer reviews - family discussions Key Concepts dialogue knowledge exchange intellectual humility Questions to Reflect On - How can you encourage others to contribute? - What value does humility add to dialogue? A Different Perspective People may resist sharing, fearing judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Consequence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consequence/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) ## Related quotes > [But it seems an irony of creation that man's mind knows how to handle things the better the farther removed they are from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-weyl/but-it-seems-an-irony-of-creation-that-man-s-mind-knows-how-to-handle/) [Hermann Weyl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-weyl/) > [A conversation does not have to be scintillating in order to be memorable. 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Change and learning occur most readily when you (a)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-d-burns/more-often-than-not-the-belief-that-you-are-bad-contributes-to-the/) [David D. Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-d-burns/) > [“We’re Garde,’ I say, correcting this billion-year-old godlike energy force, because what the hell, we’ve come this far. ‘We’re here for your help.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/we-re-garde-i-say-correcting-this-billion-year-old-godlike-energy/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [You can’t bake a cake without getting the kitchen messy. Halfway through surgery it looks like there’s been a murder in the operating room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/price-pritchett/you-can-t-bake-a-cake-without-getting-the-kitchen-messy-halfway/) [Price Pritchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/price-pritchett/) ## More by Walter Scott > [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Where shall the lover rest, Whom the fates sever From his true maiden's breast, Parted for ever? Where, through groves deep and high, Sounds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-shall-the-lover-rest-whom-the-fates-sever-from-his-true-maiden/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [O! many a shaft, at random sent, Finds mark the archer little meant! And many a word, at random spoken, May soothe or wound…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/o-many-a-shaft-at-random-sent-finds-mark-the-archer-little-meant-and/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [And better had they ne'er been born, Who read to doubt, or read to scorn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/and-better-had-they-ne-er-been-born-who-read-to-doubt-or-read-to-scorn/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Where is the coward that would not dare to fight for such a land as Scotland?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/where-is-the-coward-that-would-not-dare-to-fight-for-such-a-land-as/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Loud o'er my head though awful thunders roll, And vivid lightnings flash from pole to pole, Yet 'tis Thy voice, my God, that bids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/loud-o-er-my-head-though-awful-thunders-roll-and-vivid-lightnings/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [The race of humankind would perish did they cease to aid each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/the-race-of-humankind-would-perish-did-they-cease-to-aid-each-other/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“but he had only received that sort of answer usually given by those who are more obstinate in following their own course, than strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/but-he-had-only-received-that-sort-of-answer-usually-given-by-those/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“Love rules the court, the camp, the grove, and men below, and the saints above, for love is heaven, and heaven is love. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/love-rules-the-court-the-camp-the-grove-and-men-below-and-the-saints/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Fortune may raise up or abuse the ordinary mortal, but the sage and the soldier should have minds beyond her control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/fortune-may-raise-up-or-abuse-the-ordinary-mortal-but-the-sage-and/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [But woe awaits a country when She sees the tears of bearded men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/but-woe-awaits-a-country-when-she-sees-the-tears-of-bearded-men/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [In peace, Love tunes the shepherd's reed; In war, he mounts the warrior's steed; In halls, in gay attire is seen; In hamlets, dances…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/in-peace-love-tunes-the-shepherd-s-reed-in-war-he-mounts-the-warrior/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Honour is a homicide and a bloodspiller, that gangs about making frays in the street; but Credit is a decent honest man, that sits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/honour-is-a-homicide-and-a-bloodspiller-that-gangs-about-making-frays/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [“The lovers of the chase say that the hare feels more agony during the pursuit of the greyhounds, than when she is struggling in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/the-lovers-of-the-chase-say-that-the-hare-feels-more-agony-during-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [I am she, O most bucolical juvenal, under whose charge are placed the milky mothers of the herd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/i-am-she-o-most-bucolical-juvenal-under-whose-charge-are-placed-the/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) [Explore all 372 Walter Scott quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. This is insane. Who has the authority to say someone is better?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-arkin/i-don-t-believe-in-competitions-between-artists-this-is-insane-who/) [Alan Arkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-arkin/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. 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