The reason why so few persons are agreeable in conversation is that each thinks more of what he desires to say, than of what the others say, and that we make bad listeners when we want to speak.
Yet it is necessary to listen to those who talk, we should give them the time they want, and let them say even senseless things; never contradict or interrupt them
 François de La Rochefoucauld, Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665). copy citation

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Author François de La Rochefoucauld
Source Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Topic conversation desire
Date 1665
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by J. W. Willis Bund
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/9105/9105-h/9105-h.htm

Context

“each has its proper point of view from which it should be regarded. It is quite right that it should not be looked at too closely, for there is hardly a man who in all matters allows himself to be seen as he really is. V. On Conversation. The reason why so few persons are agreeable in conversation is that each thinks more of what he desires to say, than of what the others say, and that we make bad listeners when we want to speak. Yet it is necessary to listen to those who talk, we should give them the time they want, and let them say even senseless things; never contradict or interrupt them; on the contrary, we should enter into their mind and taste, illustrate their meaning, praise anything they say that deserves praise, and let them see we praise more from our choice than from agreement with them.” source