One thing which makes us find so few people who appear reasonable and agreeable in conversation is, that there is scarcely anyone who does not think more of what he is about to say than of answering precisely what is said to him. The cleverest and most complaisant people content themselves with merely showing an attentive countenance, while we can see in their eyes and minds a wandering from what is said to them, and an impatience to return to what they wish to say instead of reflecting that it is a bad method of pleasing or persuading others to be so studious of pleasing oneself and that listening well and answering well is one of the greatest perfections that can be attained in conversation.
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