“The trouble with her is that she lacks the power of conversation but not the power of speech.”

—  George Bernard Shaw

Widely attributed to Shaw, this quotation is actually of unknown origin.
Misattributed
Variant: She had lost the art of conversation, but not, unfortunately, the power of speech.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "The trouble with her is that she lacks the power of conversation but not the power of speech." by George Bernard Shaw?
George Bernard Shaw photo
George Bernard Shaw 413
Irish playwright 1856–1950

Related quotes

Marguerite Duras photo

“Suddenly, all at once, she knows, knows that he doesn't understand her, that he never will, that he lacks the power to understand such perverseness. And that he can never move fast enough to catch her.”

Marguerite Duras book The Lover

Source: The Lover

Naomi Klein photo

“When we lack the ability to talk back to entities that are culturally and politically powerful, the very foundations of free speech and democratic society are called into question.”

Naomi Klein (1970) Canadian author and activist

Source: No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies 1999, Chapter Eight, "Corporate Censorship"

Donald J. Trump photo

“Our country's a mess. And that's why when she makes the speech, she doesn't talk about radical Islam. She doesn't talk about the problems that we have in this country and throughout the world. Many of the problems, she caused. I mean, she created ISIS with her stupidity and her lack of knowledge with her bad judgment.”

Donald J. Trump (1946) 45th President of the United States of America

2010s, 2016, July, This Week Interview (July 30, 2016)

Theodore Roosevelt photo

“The lack of power to take joy in outdoor nature is as real a misfortune as the lack of power to take joy in books”

Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American politician, 26th president of the United States
Ramana Maharshi photo

“Silence is most powerful. Speech is always less powerful than silence.”

Ramana Maharshi (1879–1950) Indian religious leader

Abide as the Self

Joseph Nye photo

“Power conversion is the capacity to convert potential power, as measured by resources, to realized power, as measured by the changed behavior of others.”

Joseph Nye (1937) American political scientist

Source: Understanding International Conflicts: An Introduction to Theory and History (6th ed., 2006), Chapter 3, Balance of Power and World War I, p. 61.

Adam Roberts photo

“Eva is perfectly content with her academic research,” said Diana. “She just isn’t interested in power. As I say those sentences,” she added, clasping her knees to her chest, “I can tell they’re both wrong. Aren’t they? Of course she’s interested in power.”

Adam Roberts book Jack Glass: The Story of a Murderer

“She’s a human being,” agreed Iago.
Part 3, Chapter 8, “The Wrath of Diana” (p. 339).
Jack Glass (2012)

Cassandra Clare photo

“She gritted her teeth. She was here with Sebastian, on her way to see a powerful warlock, and mentally she was maundering on about the way Jace smelled.”

Cassandra Clare book City of Glass

Source: City of Glass

Sam Harris photo

“Faith is a declaration of immunity to the powers of conversation.”

Sam Harris (1967) American author, philosopher and neuroscientist

Sam Harris, "The View From The End Of The World" (9 December 2005)
2000s
Context: The problem with faith, is that it really is a conversation stopper. Faith is a declaration of immunity to the powers of conversation. It is a reason, why you do not have to give reasons, for what you believe.

Related topics