“No one cares to speak to an unwilling listener. An arrow never lodges in a stone: often it recoils upon the sender of it.”
Letter 52
Letters
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Jerome52
Catholic saint and Doctor of the Church 345–420Related quotes
Confucius (-551–-479 BC) Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher
The Analects, Chapter I, Chapter II
Context: Listen widely to remove your doubts and be careful when speaking about the rest and your mistakes will be few. See much and get rid of what is dangerous and be careful in acting on the rest and your causes for regret will be few. Speaking without fault, acting without causing regret: 'upgrading' consists in this.
“Be careful what you wish for. You never know who will be listening.”
Terry Pratchett book Soul Music
Source: Soul Music
Sören Kierkegaard (1813–1855) Danish philosopher and theologian, founder of Existentialism
Source: The Present Age
“When someone speaks from the heart, one should listen to them”
Sarada Devi (1853–1920) Hindu religious figure, spiritual consort of Ramakrishna
Mother’s Love – Swami Ishanananda http://www.chennaimath.org/category/media/page/2,
“Society speaks and all men listen, mountains speak and wise men listen.”
John Muir (1838–1914) Scottish-born American naturalist and author
Frequently attributed to Muir without source. An extensive search of Muir's published and unpublished writings found several sharp and cogent observations concerning society (see above) but not this one.
Misattributed