“Consider in fact, a body of six hundred and fifty-eight miscellaneous persons, set to consult about "business," with twenty-seven millions, mostly fools, assiduously listening to them, and checking and criticising them. Was there ever, since the world began, will there ever be till the world end, any "business" accomplished in these circumstances?” WorldPersonsEndsFactsBodyGovernmentMillionsListeningFoolCircumstancesSixHundredTwentiesSevenEightAccomplishedFiftyMiscellaneous Book:The Selected Works of Thomas Carlyle Source: The Selected Works of Thomas Carlyle
“The ways of change are dictated by the circumstances of each country, each place and each time. I don't think that arrogant intellectuals should be dictating to the people which way they should be heading. I think we should be listening to the people, see in which directions things are developing. People are walking where they can, not where they want to. But they are walking!” PeopleThinkingWayWantShouldCountryListeningCircumstancesWalkingDevelopingArrogantCan NotHeadingsDictating Author:Eduardo Galeano
“A sermon is a valuable thing now and so impressive when you do hear a good one - and there is a lot of failure in the attempt; it's a difficult form - is because it's so seldom true now that you hear people speak under circumstances where they assume they are obliged to speak seriously and in good faith, and the people who hear them are assumed to be listening seriously and in good faith.” PeopleFormSpeakDifficultListeningCircumstancesAssumingValuableSermonsImpressiveObligedGood FaithValuable Things Author:Marilynne Robinson
“A little-recognized value of listening and inquiring relates to the realization that in human relationships, it is frequently not what the I've learned ... that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances: when it is requested and when it is a life-threatening situation.” GivingHumansLittlesTwoValuesSituationAdviceListeningCircumstancesRealizationRelateI've LearnedThreateningHuman RelationsHuman RelationshipsInquiring Author:Andy Rooney
“The only sci-fi movie that I've ever been offered that, had circumstances been different, I would have definitely done, was 'Avatar.' And I literally couldn't do it because of my schedule. But listening to James Cameron talk about 'Avatar' was so fascinating. Because he literally invented the world in his mind - and it literally existed.” WorldMindDifferentDoneListeningCircumstancesFascinatingSci FiSchedulesCameronSci Fi Movie Author:Matt Damon
“I can easily believe it. Women of that class have great opportunities, and if they are intelligent may be well worth listening to. Such varieites of human nature as they are in the habit of witnessing! And it is not merely in its follies, that they are read; for they see it occasionally under every circumstance that can be most interesting or affecting. What instances must pass before them of ardent, disinterested, self-denying attachment, of heroism, fortitude, patience, resignation-- of all the sacrifices that ennoble us most. A sick chamber may often furnish the worth of volumes.” IfsBelieveHumansWellsMayI CanSelfOpportunityInterestingClassSacrificeHuman NatureListeningHabitCircumstancesSickIntelligentInstanceFollyAttachmentHeroismVolumeFortitudeChamberMost InterestingResignationArdentGreat OpportunityDisinterestedAnne Elliot Author:Jane Austen