Quotations and Literature Forum

I'm looking for a quote that in essence says

"If two people do not agree on the definition of terms, they cannot have a conversation, they cannot communicate"

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I'm interested in quotes about reading, enhanced reading skills, rapid reading and speed reading

If two people do not agree, at least on a majority of their concepts, then it is almost impossible for them to exist together in harmony, unless one or the other is always prepared to subjugate their views and be passive. Thus it must be true to say that for harmony to exist in a society either every person must actively agree with each and every other person, or anyone who does not agree must passively accept the current ideology.
~excerpt from The Essence of Harmony in a Divergent Society
© Copyright Dr Keith C Marshall, 1974, 1998. All rights reserved
http://www.cix.co.uk/~kcm/zenm/ethics2.htm

Real communication is impossible when people are not free to take the risk of stating their opinions and disclosing their thoughts. Part of our responsibility for our own well-being is to make ourselves known as we are, so that people are able to deal with us in the way we wish them to. Part of our responsibility is also not to violate the right of other people to express their opinions and make themselves known.
http://www.mastering-echange.com/Ch_1/Ch_10/ch_10.html

Wherever bias controls relationships, communication is impossible because listening is impossible. The phenomenon of uncivilized confrontation appears daily on the television screen, in conflicts -- shouting matches or worse -- between abortionists and antiabortionists, between groups advocating causes that conflict, between regional groupings, and so on.
~ Carl F. Starkloff, S.J.
http://puffin.creighton.edu/jesuit/dial ... ition.html

You guys are both saying the same thing. The only reason you're arguing is because you're using different words.

--S.I. Hayakawa


Hayakawa, a follower of Alfred Korzybski, developed the field of General Semantics, which has a lot to say about things like promoting meaningful conversation by defining your terms. I suggest you look into the writings of both these guys.

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Mr. Fussbudget

True wit is nature to advantage dressed,
What oft was thought, but ne'er so well expressed.