Twelve Golden Rules to the Art of Conversation

Conversation in Autumn
Conversation in Autumn 講秋圖
The Art of Conversation: Twelve Golden Rules by Josephine Turck Baker (web | index)

  1. Avoid unnecessary details.
  2. Do not ask question No. 2 until No. 1 has been answered.
  3. Do not interrupt another while they are speaking.
  4. Do not contradict another, especially when the subject under discussion is of trivial importance.
  5. Do not do all the talking; give your tired listener a chance.
  6. Be not continually the hero of your own story; and, on the other hand, do not leave your story without a hero.
  7. Choose a subject of mutual interest.
  8. Be a good listener.
  9. Make your speech in harmony with your surroundings.
  10. Do not exaggerate.
  11. Indulge occasionally in a relevant quotation, but do not garble it.
  12. Cultivate tact.
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By Paul

I’m a Detroit expat recently returned from Tokyo living in Chattanooga. I’m a consulting security professional and father of two. I promise that my views and politics are mine; not yours or my employer’s or anyone’s. I follow no party or affiliation or anything. My things are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license unless otherwise stated.

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