Reflection for the Day

We should listen to those who are speaking, if we want them to listen to us; we should give them a hearing, and even let them say things that are pointless. Instead of contradicting or interrupting them, as people often do, we should penetrate their own thought and taste, showing that we understand them, speaking about things that concern them, praising what they say when it deserves to be praised, and showing that we are praising them by choice rather than out of mere politeness. We should avoid disputes about insignificant things; we should rarely question what they say (this is almost always useless).