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It's not necessary to tell all you know. It's not ladylike -- in the second place, folks don't like to have someone around knowin' more than they do. It aggravates them. Your not gonna change any of them by talkin' right, they've got to want to learn themselves, and when they don't want to learn there's nothing you can do but keep your mouth shut or talk their language.
Harper Lee
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Sometimes, it's wiser to keep knowledge to oneself, as not everyone is open to learning.

In this quote, Harper Lee emphasizes the importance of discretion in sharing knowledge. She suggests that people often feel threatened by those who know more than them, leading to discomfort and resistance to learning. The quote implies that effective communication requires knowing your audience and speaking in a way that resonates with them, rather than overwhelming them with facts.

Themes

KnowledgeWisdomCommunicationDiscretionLearning

In practice

Example use cases

During a meeting where someone is dominating the discussion, you might use this quote to suggest that not everyone needs to share their knowledge.

More from Harper Lee

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Don’t talk like that, Dill,” said Aunt Alexandra. “It’s not becoming to a child. It’s – cynical.” “I ain’t cynical, Miss Alexandra. Tellin’ the truth’s not cynical, is it?” “The way you tell it, it is.
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He turned out the light and went into Jem's room. He would be there all night, and he would be there when Jem waked up in the morning.
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You can choose your friends but you sho' can't choose your family, an' they're still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge 'em or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don't.
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