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People behave more on the basis of how they feel than how they think; unless there are good feelings between people, it is almost impossible to reason intelligently.
Stephen Covey
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Emotions often drive behavior more than rational thought, highlighting the importance of positive feelings in interactions.

In this quote, Stephen Covey emphasizes that human behavior is largely influenced by emotions rather than logical reasoning. The presence of good feelings between individuals fosters open communication and effective reasoning, suggesting that relationships built on trust and positivity enable better understanding and collaboration.

Themes

EmotionsBehaviorRelationshipsFeelingsCommunication

In practice

Example use cases

In a team meeting to foster collaboration, you might say, 'As Stephen Covey noted, positive feelings enhance our ability to reason intelligently together.'

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Keep in mind that you are always saying "no" to something. If it isn't to the apparent and urgent things in your life, it is probably to the most fundamental, highly important things.
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