What we want is to see the child in pursuit of knowledge, and not knowledge in pursuit of the child.
George Bernard ShawRead
My method is to take the utmost trouble to find the right thing to say, and then to say it with the utmost levity.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of choosing words carefully while maintaining a light-hearted attitude.
George Bernard Shaw highlights the balance between seriousness and humor in communication. He suggests that speaking thoughtfully is essential, but delivering those words with a sense of levity can make them more relatable and engaging for the audience. This approach encourages people to reflect on their message while also fostering a positive atmosphere through humor.
Themes
CommunicationHumorLevitySpeechThoughtfulness
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about creativity during a conference, one might say, 'As Shaw suggests, it's important to find the right words and deliver them with humor to engage the audience.'
More from George Bernard Shaw
All quotes βMarriage is good enough for the lower classes: they have facilities for desertion that are denied to us.
George Bernard ShawRead
Forgive him, for he believes that the customs of his tribe are the laws of nature!
George Bernard ShawRead
Those who talk most about the blessings of marriage and the constancy of its vows are the very people who declare that if the chain were broken and the prisoners left free to choose, the whole social fabric would fly asunder. You cannot have the argument both ways. If the prisoner is happy, why lock him in? If he is not, why pretend that he is?
George Bernard ShawRead
Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
George Bernard ShawRead
The happiness of credulity is a cheap and dangerous quality.
George Bernard ShawRead
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When a member of the House moves over to the Senate, he raises the IQ of both bodies.
Everett DirksenRead
Whether a party can have much success without a woman present I must ask others to decide, but one thing is certain, no party is any fun unless seasoned with folly.
Desiderius ErasmusRead