62 Inspiring Conversation Quotes

In the art of communication, few things are as powerful as a meaningful conversation. Whether it's a deep discussion with a close friend or an enlightening exchange of ideas with a new acquaintance, conversations have the ability to inspire, motivate, and transform. To celebrate this impactful aspect of human interaction, we've curated a collection of the top 62 inspiring conversation quotes. These words capture the essence of what it means to truly connect with others, offering wisdom and insight that can encourage us to engage more deeply and listen more intently. Join us as we explore these thought-provoking quotes and uncover the transformative power of engaging dialogue.

1. “Conversation, like certain portions of the anatomy, always runs more smoothly when lubricated.” - Doug Wright

2. “I never desire to converse with a man who has written more than he has read.” - Samuel Johnson

3. “He's never quite got the trick of conversation, tending to hear in dissenting views, however mild, a kind of affront, an invitation to mortal combat.” - Ian McEwan

4. “People say conversation is a lost art; how often I have wished it were.” - Edward R. Murrow

5. “Manners are the ability to put someone else at their ease...by turning any answer into another question.” - Tina Brown

6. “Galinda didn't often stop to consider whether she believed in what she said or not; the whole point of conversations was flow.” - Gregory Maguire

7. “Stairs," Valkyrie said, disappointed."Not just ordinary stairs," Skulduggery told her as he led the way down. "Magic stairs.""Really?""Oh, yes."She followed him into the darkness. "How are they magic?""They just are.""In what way?""In a magicky way."She glared at the back of his head. "They aren't magic at all, are they?""Not really.” - Derek Landy

8. “We define our identity always in dialogue with, sometimes in struggle against, the things our significant others want to see in us. Even after we outgrow some of these others—our parents, for instance—and they disappear from our lives, the conversation with them continues within us as long as we live.” - Charles Taylor

9. “How do we know we're not people in a movie?' she asked.I looked at her not knowing how to reply.Mama, [...] how do we know that things are real?'Great. Now we have a junior existentialist in the house.Well, we don't know. We just have to hope that what we think is real is real.'But how do we know?' she asked, insistently.Ah, a scientist, who wants empirical evidence.We don't know. We just have to hope.'Mama, how do we know things aren't a dream? You know, how sometimes life feels like a dream? Do you ever feel that way?'Yes, sweetie, I feel that way all the time.” - Julie Metz

10. “Clearly she was expected to say something, but panic at having to speak stole the thoughts from her head.” - Shannon Hale

11. “There's so few things men can talk about. If a man doesn't like baseball, then he must like horses, and if he doesn't like either of them, well, I'm in trouble anyway: he don't like girls.” - Truman Capote

12. “I've given guys blow jobs just because I've run out of things to talk about.'Oh, Rae. Who hasn't” - Anne Lamott

13. “The art of conversation is the art of hearing as well as of being heard.” - William Hazlitt

14. “Let us make a special effort to stop communicating with each other, so we can have some conversation.” - Mark Twain

15. “It’s no company at all, when people know nothing and say nothing,’ she muttered.” - Emily Brontë

16. “Funny how nobody talks on the tubes, isn't it? I rarely catch the tube myself, or lifts. Confined spaces, everybody shuts down. Why is that? Perhaps we think everybody on the tube is a potential psychopath or a drunk,so we close down and pretend to read a book or something.” - John Hannah

17. “I believe that words are strong, that they can overwhelm what we fear when fear seems more awful than life is good.” - Andrew Solomon

18. “The American appetite for loneliness impressed me, and there was something about this solitude that freed conversation. One night at a bar, I met a man, and within five minutes he explained that he had just been released from prison. Another drinker told me that his wife had passed away, and he had recently suffered a heart attack, and now he hoped that he would die within the year. I learned that there's no reliable small talk in America; at any moment a conversation can become personal.” - Peter Hessler

19. “This, I believe, is the appropriate image of human intercourse -- appropriate because it recognizes the qualities, the diversities, and the proper relationships of human utterances. As civilized human beings, we are the inheritors, neither of an inquiry about ourselves and the world, nor of an accumulating body of information, but of a conversation, begun in the primeval forests and extended and made more articulate in the course of centuries. It is a conversation which goes on both in public and within each of ourselves.” - Michael Joseph Oakeshott

20. “The first conversation began awkwardly, although Espinoza had been expecting Pelletier's call, as if both men found it difficult to say what sooner or later the would have to say. The first twenty minutes were tragic in tone, with the word fate used ten times and the word friendship twenty-four times. Liz Norton's name was spoken fifty times, nine of them in vain. The word Paris was said seven times, Madrid, eight. The word love was spoken twice, once by each man. The word horror was spoken six times and the word happiness once (by Espinoza). The word solution was said twelve times. The word solipsism seven times. The world euphemism ten times. The word category, in the singular and the plural, nine times. The word structuralism once (Pelletier). The term American literature three times. The words dinner or eating or breakfast or sandwich nineteen times. The words eyes or hands or hair fourteen times. The the conversation proceeded more smoothly.” - Roberto Bolaño

21. “Whenever I saw her, I felt like I had been living in another country, doing moderately well in another language, and then she showed up speaking English and suddenly I could speak with all the complexity and nuance that I hadn't realized was gone. With Lucy I was a native speaker.” - Ann Patchett

22. “The host took care to produce one or another of these whenever the current subjects seemed about used up, so that the conversation gathered new life and at the same time steered clear of political arguments, which are hindersome to both ingestion and digestion.” - Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

23. “A conversation is a dialogue, not a monologue. That's why there are so few good conversations: due to scarcity, two intelligent talkers seldom meet.” - Truman Capote

24. “Are you mad?" I ask."I was." He glances at the ceiling then back at me. "Or confused, anyway. The whole thing threw me through for a loop. I thought I'd finally met a guy at Underwood I could relate to, and it turns out he wasn't a guy at all."I swallow. "I can see how that would be weird." "In a way though, I was relieved.""Relieved?" I echo. "Why?"He looks around embarrased. "Let's just say you had me questioning my sexual orientation.” - Jody Gehrman

25. “Conversation. What is it? A Mystery! It's the art of never seeming bored, of touching everything with interest, of pleasing with trifles, of being fascinating with nothing at all.” - Guy de Maupassant

26. “Sometimes when it looks like I'm deep in thought I'm just trying not to have a conversation with people.” - Pete Wentz

27. “Tell me something. Do you believe in God?'Snow darted an apprehensive glance in my direction. 'What? Who still believes nowadays?''It isn't that simple. I don't mean the traditional God of Earth religion. I'm no expert in the history of religions, and perhaps this is nothing new--do you happen to know if there was ever a belief in an...imperfect God?''What do you mean by imperfect?' Snow frowned. 'In a way all the gods of the old religions were imperfect, considered that their attributes were amplified human ones. The God of the Old Testament, for instance, required humble submission and sacrifices, and and was jealous of other gods. The Greek gods had fits of sulks and family quarrels, and they were just as imperfect as mortals...''No,' I interrupted. 'I'm not thinking of a god whose imperfection arises out of the candor of his human creators, but one whose imperfection represents his essential characteristic: a god limited in his omniscience and power, fallible, incapable of foreseeing the consequences of his acts, and creating things that lead to horror. He is a...sick god, whose ambitions exceed his powers and who does not realize it at first. A god who has created clocks, but not the time they measure. He has created systems or mechanisms that serves specific ends but have now overstepped and betrayed them. And he has created eternity, which was to have measured his power, and which measures his unending defeat.'Snow hesitated, but his attitude no longer showed any of the wary reserve of recent weeks:'There was Manicheanism...''Nothing at all to do with the principles of Good and Evil,' I broke in immediately. 'This god has no existence outside of matter. He would like to free himself from matter, but he cannot...'Snow pondered for a while:'I don't know of any religion that answers your description. That kind of religion has never been...necessary. If i understand you, and I'm afraid I do, what you have in mind is an evolving god, who develops in the course of time, grows, and keeps increasing in power while remaining aware of his powerlessness. For your god, the divine condition is a situation without a goal. And understanding that, he despairs. But isn't this despairing god of yours mankind, Kelvin? Is it man you are talking about, and that is a fallacy, not just philosophically but also mystically speaking.'I kept on:'No, it's nothing to do with man. man may correspond to my provisional definition from some point of view, but that is because the definition has a lot of gaps. Man does not create gods, in spite of appearances. The times, the age, impose them on him. Man can serve is age or rebel against it, but the target of his cooperation or rebellion comes to him from outside. If there was only a since human being in existence, he would apparently be able to attempt the experiment of creating his own goals in complete freedom--apparently, because a man not brought up among other human beings cannot become a man. And the being--the being I have in mind--cannot exist in the plural, you see? ...Perhaps he has already been born somewhere, in some corner of the galaxy, and soon he will have some childish enthusiasm that will set him putting out one star and lighting another. We will notice him after a while...''We already have,' Snow said sarcastically. 'Novas and supernovas. According to you they are candles on his altar.''If you're going to take what I say literally...'...Snow asked abruptly:'What gave you this idea of an imperfect god?''I don't know. It seems quite feasible to me. That is the only god I could imagine believing in, a god whose passion is not a redemption, who saves nothing, fulfills no purpose--a god who simply is.” - Stanisław Lem

28. “Corrival looked around. 'So is this it? Is everyone here? Erskine, maybe you should start the ball rolling. I have places to go and things to do.''Me?' Ravel asked. 'Why do I have to start it? You're the most respected mage here. You start it, or Skulduggery.'Skulduggery shook his head. 'I can't start it. I don't like most of these people. I might start shooting.” - Derek Landy

29. “You asked why the rate hate Overlanders so deeply. It is because they know one will be the warrior of the prophecy," said Vikus."Oh, I see," said Gregor. "So, when's he coming?"Vikus fixed his eyes on Gregor. "I believe he is already here.” - Suzanne Collins

30. “Because there are hundreds of different ways to say one thing, I, being a writer, songwriter, and poet, speak childishly and incoherently. In speech there is so much to decide in so little time.” - Criss Jami

31. “Drunken men give some of the best pep talks.” - Criss Jami

32. “Everyone has their own ways of expression. I believe we all have a lot to say, but finding ways to say it is more than half the battle.” - Criss Jami

33. “Talking about one's feelings defeats the purpose of having those feelings. Once you try to put the human experience into words, it becomes little more than a spectator sport. Everything must have a cause, and a name. Every random thought must have a root in something else.” - Derek Landy

34. “Life seemed even more of a guessing game than usual.” - Julian Barnes

35. “I appricated that Nell was talking to me like a grown-up, but I had no idea what she meant. Still, I could see that the words flowed together like water over a riverbed.” - Silas House

36. “A good conversation always involves a certain amount of complaining. I like to bond over mutual hatreds and petty grievances.” - Lisa Kleypas

37. “Most people are much better at saying things in letters than in conversation, and some people can write artistic, inventive letters, but when they try a poem or story or novel they become pretentious.” - Charles Bukowski

38. “The fun of talk is to explore, but much of it and all that is irresponsible should not be written. Once written you have to stand by it. You may have said it to see whether you believed it or not.” - Ernest Hemingway

39. “...And tonight—Geryon? You okay?Yes fine, I'm listening. Tonight—?Why do you have your jacket over your head?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Can't hear you Geryon. The jacket shifted. Geryon peered out. I said sometimesI need a little privacy.” - Anne Carson

40. “Do you ever lose the ego?” Westford asks me.“Yeah.” When his daughter kisses me, my ego flies out the window.” - Simone Elkeles

41. “On Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell in His Girl Friday:"These two simply appreciate one another more than either of them appreciates anyone else, and they would rather be appreciated by one another more than by anyone else. They just are at home with one another, whether or not they can ever live together under the same roof -- that is, ever find a roof they can live together under.” - Stanley Cavell

42. “Communication is the one class no one graduates from. Even the wisest man's words will be misinterpreted by a fool.” - Shannon L. Alder

43. “If they’re together long enough, every couple has one conversation over and over. This was ours.” - Frederick Weisel

44. “Among the Ibo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten.” - Chinua Achebe

45. “They were learning that New York had another life, too — subterranean, like almost everything that was human in the city — a life of writers meeting in restaurants at lunchtime or in coffee houses after business hours to talk of work just started or magazines unpublished, and even to lay modest plans for the future. Modestly they were beginning to write poems worth the trouble of reading to their friends over coffee cups. Modestly they were rebelling once more.” - Malcolm Cowley

46. “Prayer at its highest is a two-way conversation-and for me the most important part is listening to God's replies.” - Frank C. Laubach

47. “The conversation was mesmerizing, not for its content but for the cadences of the talk, the rhythm we fell into when we were alone, now as before. Every conversation between friends or lovers creates its own easy or awkward rhythms, hidden talk that runs like a subterranean river under even the most banal exchange.” - Robert Charles Wilson

48. “Whenever Percy stopped by to see [Annabeth], she was so lost in thought that the conversation went something like this:Percy: 'Hey, how's it going?'Annabeth: 'Uh, no thanks.'Percy: 'Okay...have you eaten anything today?'Annabeth: 'I think Leo is on duty. Ask him.'Percy: 'So, my hair is on fire.'Annabeth: 'Okay, in a while.” - Rick Riordan

49. “There is nothing more entertaining then leaving someone speechless. Yet, there is nothing sadder than realizing that person was incapable of retaining half of what you said, and will repeat the story all wrong to someone else.” - Shannon L. Alder

50. “The conversation limped along this line of thought much like a zombie: lifeless and mindless and making a jelly of whatever healthy brains were within its reach.” - Steve Hockensmith

51. “Everybody talks, but there is no conversation.” - Dejan Stojanovic

52. “Things are embarrassing, best to avoid them. But since your death I prefer a naturalist style of conversation. Let's strip it down to what matters. Let's have emotions and beliefs on show without the modest covering of small talk.” - Rosamund Lupton

53. “As far as I am concerned, philosophic questioning is just as likely to make you confused and depressed as it is to improve your condition.” - Christopher Paolini

54. “And besides . . . I don’t want to leave you. Er, you guys.”He smiled, and it lit up his whole face. “Well, ‘we’ are certainly happy to hear that. Oh, and I’m also happy to watch our darling little love child dragon while you’re in St. Louis.”I grinned back.” - Richelle Mead

55. “طه: بالسهولة دي .. هيلاقوا العضم .. و هيعرفوا إنه (السرفيس) .. الـ(DNA)...وليد: ليه .. (تامر حسني) .. عضمه منقوش عليه اسمه ؟ وبعدين ده معندهوش (DNA)أصلاً.. لما بنلاقي حاجة كده بنبقى عارفين إنّها مِش جاية .. و مالهاش ديّة .. ده إذا حد بلّغ أصلاً.” - أحمد مراد

56. “Weird people don't care if they're weird. They are the most entertaining to converse with because nothing is off-limits.” - Donna Lynn Hope

57. “Surely only boring people went in for conversations consisting of questions and answers. The art of true conversation consisted in the play of minds.” - Ved Mehta

58. “what a sad pair we are," she said. "Surely we can manage a conversation on a topic other than our respective terrible evenings.” - Julia Quinn

59. “It was the kind of conversation you could only hold in whispers.” - Aimee Bender

60. “CONVERSATION is the vehicle for change.” - Terry Tempest Williams

61. “We must understand that out of community and dialogue, the answers will arrive in their own time and way.” - Bryant McGill

62. “What I mean is, lots of time you don't know what interests you most till you start talking about something that doesn't interest you most. I mean you can't help it sometimes. What I think is, you're supposed to leave somebody alone if he's at least being interesting and he's getting all excited about something. I like it when somebody gets excited about something. It's nice.” - J.D Sallinger