The finest command of language is often shown by saying nothing.

The finest command of language is often shown by saying nothing.

But conversation, choose what theme we may,
And chiefly when religion leads the way,
Should flow, like read more

But conversation, choose what theme we may,
And chiefly when religion leads the way,
Should flow, like waters after summer show'rs,
Not as if raised by mere mechanic powers.

I love any discourse of rivers, and fish and fishing.

I love any discourse of rivers, and fish and fishing.

Conversation is the laboratory and workshop of the student.

Conversation is the laboratory and workshop of the student.

The difficulty with this conversation is that it's very different from most of the ones I've had of late. Which, read more

The difficulty with this conversation is that it's very different from most of the ones I've had of late. Which, as I explained, have mostly been with trees.

A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better
than ten years' study of books.

A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better
than ten years' study of books.

Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative.

Conversation about the weather is the last refuge of the unimaginative.

Men of great conversational powers almost universally practise a
sort of lively sophistry and exaggeration which deceives for the read more

Men of great conversational powers almost universally practise a
sort of lively sophistry and exaggeration which deceives for the
moment both themselves and their auditors.

They would talk of nothing but high life and high-lived company,
with other fashionable topics, such as pictures, taste, read more

They would talk of nothing but high life and high-lived company,
with other fashionable topics, such as pictures, taste,
Shakespeare, and the musical glasses.