Before we can speak God's message, we must learn to listen. The opened ear comes before the opened mouth.

He replied, “I already told you, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”

Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.” So Laban said, “Please speak.”

When David’s young men arrived, they relayed all these words to Nabal on behalf of David. Then they waited.

He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.

Be silent, and I will speak. Then let come to me what may.

Words spoken in haste cannot be taken back. And while they may be forgiven, the memories will linger to warn the heart of future encounters.

Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

A free theologian works in communication with other theologians...He waits for them and asks them to wait for him. Our sadly lacking yet indispensable theological co-operation depends directly or indirectly on whether or not we are wiling to wait for one another, perhaps lamenting, yet smiling with tears in our eyes.

Blessed is the man who, having nothing to say, refrains from giving wordy evidence of the fact.

Conversation is the slowest form of human communication.

I'll tell you what leadership is. It's persuasion and conciliation, and education, and patience.