Poirot," I said. "I have been thinking." "An admirable exercise my friend. Continue it.
Agatha ChristieRead
Words are such uncertain things, they so often sound well but mean the opposite of what one thinks they do.
Interpretation
Words can be misleading, often conveying meanings contrary to what we intend.
This quote highlights the often deceptive nature of language, where words might sound pleasant or appropriate but can carry meanings that are vastly different from the speaker's intentions. Agatha Christie suggests that communication is fraught with ambiguity and uncertainty, encouraging a deeper consideration of the words we choose and their potential interpretations.
In practice
In a speech about effective communication, this quote can highlight the importance of clarity.
Poirot," I said. "I have been thinking." "An admirable exercise my friend. Continue it.
Best of an island is once you get there - you can't go any farther...you've come to the end of things.
Where large sums of money are concerned, it is advisable to trust nobody.
I have wanted . . . to commit a murder myself. I recognized this as the desire of the artist to express himself! . . . But-incongruous as it may seem to some-I was restrained and hampered by my innate sense of justice. The innocent must not suffer.
Sitting here with one's knitting, one just sees the facts. -"The Blood-Stained Pavement
No, my friend, I am not drunk. I have just been to the dentist, and need not return for another six months! Is it not the most beautiful thought? --Poirot
So if you aspire to be a good conversationali st, be an attentive listener.
Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.
Human communication, 'as the saying goes, is a clash of symbols' it covers a multitude of signs. But it is more than media and messages, information and persuasion; it also meets a deeper need and serves a higher purpose. Whether clear or garbled, tumultuous or silent, deliberate or fatally inadvertent, communication is the ground of meeting and the foundation of community. It is, in short, the essential human connection.
The human voice: It's the instrument we all play. It's the most powerful sound in the world, probably. It's the only one that can start a war or say 'I love you.' And yet many people have the experience that when they speak, people don't listen to them.
Speak from your mind and people will hear you with their mind. Speak from your heart and people will hear you with their heart.
Man's inability to communicate is a result of his failure to listen effectively.
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