“It is not praised if you are the only one to understand what you speak
interesting is the situation when you speak and the others understand.”

“Companions of arms and lords. Do not believe that the one who is going to speak to them is a philosopher, I am a man of people, but you will understand that these men when they speak, speak with the heart.”

“Men are quick to praise and quick to blame; so pay no heed to what others speak of you.”

“The law of silence: Speak little. Say only what you must. Speak only when necessary. Your oratory should be deeds, not words. You accomplish: let others talk.”

“There is no other way of guarding oneself against flattery than by letting men understand that they will not offend you by speaking the truth; but when everyone can tell you the truth, you lose their respect.”

“Listen to what others have to say. When you speak, you're only repeating things you already know. When you listen you learn.”

“20.02.94, Kyiv, 18:15 a boy from the crowd:
- Sofia Mihailovna, how many languages do you speak?
- I speak Moldavian, Ukrainian and Russian, but what is important is that we understand each other.”

“I can't relate to lazy people. We don't speak the same language. I don't understand you. I don't want to understand you.”

“Confidence is a feeling you get when you don't REALLY understand the situation.”

“No blame, no
reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you
understand, and you show that you understand, you can
love, and the situation will change.”