“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
Epictetus (50–138) philosopher from Ancient Greece
As quoted in Diogenes Laërtius Lives and Opinions of Eminent Philosophers, vii. 23.
Variant translation: The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is that we may listen the more and talk the less.
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”
Epictetus (50–138) philosopher from Ancient Greece
“God gave man two ears and one tongue so we could listen twice as much as we talk.”
Faisal of Saudi Arabia (1906–1975) King of Saudi Arabia
As per an article published in the New York Times in 1975, this was King Faisal's favorite quote. https://www.nytimes.com/1975/03/26/archives/faisal-rich-and-powerful-led-saudis-into-20th-century-and-to-arab.html
Greta Thunberg (2003) Swedish climate change activist
We Are Striking to Disrupt the System: An Hour with 16-Year-Old Climate Activist Greta Thunberg https://www.democracynow.org/2019/9/11/greta_thunberg_swedish_activist_climate_crisis, DemocracyNow (11 September 2019) <br class="br">2019
“People are watching the way we act, more than they are listening to what we say.”
Max Lucado (1955) American clergyman and writer
Georges Duhamel (1884–1966) French writer
Source: Défense des Lettres [In Defense of Letters] (1937), p. 47
“Nature gave us one tongue and two ears so we could hear twice as much as we speak.”
Epictetus (50–138) philosopher from Ancient Greece
“We are all gifted of the mouth, retarded of the ear.”
Warren Farrell (1943) author, spokesperson, expert witness, political candidate
Source: Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say (2000), p. 40.
Lauren Child (1965) author and illustrator especially known for Charlie and Lola, Clarice Bean, and My Uncle is a Hunkle
“You've got one mouth and two ears. There's a reason.”
Ron Kaufman (1956) American author and consultant
Lift Me UP! Service With A Smile (2005)
François de La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680) French author of maxims and memoirs
Reflections on Various Subjects (1665–1678), V. On Conversation