An essential part of true listening is the discipline of bracketing, the temporary giving up or setting aside of one's read more

An essential part of true listening is the discipline of bracketing, the temporary giving up or setting aside of one's own prejudices, frames of reference and desires so as to experience as far as possible the speaker's world from the inside, step in inside his or her shoes. This unification of speaker and listener is actually and extension and enlargement of ourselves, and new knowledge is always gained from this. Moreover, since true listening involves bracketing, a setting aside of the self, it also temporarily involves a total acceptance of the other. Sensing this acceptance, the speaker will fell less and less vulnerable and more and more inclined to open up the inner recesses of his or her mind to the listener. As this happens, speaker and listener begin to appreciate each other more and more, and the duet dance of love is begun again. -M. Scott Peck.

If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he read more

If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear. -A. A. Milne.

Listen. Don't explain or justify.

Listen. Don't explain or justify.

Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much. -Robert Greenleaf.

Many attempts to communicate are nullified by saying too much. -Robert Greenleaf.

Wisdom is the reward for a lifetime of listening ... when you'd have preferred to talk. -D.J. Kaufman.

Wisdom is the reward for a lifetime of listening ... when you'd have preferred to talk. -D.J. Kaufman.

Man who know little say much. Man who know much say little. -Unknown.

Man who know little say much. Man who know much say little. -Unknown.

The time to stop talking is when the other person nods his head affirmatively but says nothing. -Unknown.

The time to stop talking is when the other person nods his head affirmatively but says nothing. -Unknown.

A good listener is not someone with nothing to say. A good listener is a good talker with a sore read more

A good listener is not someone with nothing to say. A good listener is a good talker with a sore throat.

But yet she listen'd--'tis enough--
Who listens once will listen twice;
Her heart, be sure, is not read more

But yet she listen'd--'tis enough--
Who listens once will listen twice;
Her heart, be sure, is not of ice,
And one refusal no rebuff.