Mary Greer Conklin

the man who never says a foolish thing in conversation will never say a wise one

Where there is much intellectual activity discussion is sure to arise, for the simple reason that people will not think alike.

There is no greater bore in society than the person who agrees with everybody. Discussion is the arena in which we measure the strength of one another's minds and run a friendly tilt in pleasing self-assertiveness

"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul in peace," it is true; but he also keeps himself dead to all human intercourse and as colorless in the world as an oyster.

I have been inclined to think otherwise," "I should be pleased to hear your reasons," "Aren't you mistaken?" are more acceptable phrases with which to introduce dissent.

Rousseau's description of Parisian conversation; and some one else has declared

It is curious to note," says an editorial in The Spectator, "how very much dialog there is in the world, and how little true conversation; how very little, that is, of the genuine attempt to compare the different bearing of the

Thus there are many who will like a man who speaks much, and will call him pleasing;

might seem that any person with a good subject must talk well and be interesting.

this shrinking of people of genius from discussing the very subjects with regard to which their opinion is most valuable, there is no doubt a great loss to the world. But unless they themselves bring forth the topic of their art, it must remain in abeyance.