People say conversation is a lost art; how often I have wished it were.
Interpretation
The quote expresses nostalgia for deep, meaningful conversations that seem to be disappearing in modern society.
Edward R. Murrow laments the decline of meaningful dialogue in contemporary life, suggesting that conversation is a skill that is fading away. His reflection highlights the importance of personal connection and authentic discussion, indicating a desire for a return to those genuine interactions that foster understanding and community.
In practice
In a speech about modern relationships, one could use this quote to emphasize the need for genuine interactions.
We have currently a built-in allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information. Our mass media reflect this. But unless we get up off our fat surpluses and recognize that television in the main is being used to distract, delude, amuse, and insulate us, then television and those who finance it, those who look at it, and those who work at it, may see a totally different picture too late.
Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them.
One of the basic troubles with radio and television news is that both instruments have grown up as an incompatible combination of show business, advertising and news. Each of the three is a rather bizarre and demanding profession. And when you get all three under one roof, the dust never settles.
Speaking of Sir Winston Churchill: He mobilized the English language and sent it into battle.
We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.
The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue.
We move but our words stand become responsible for more than we intended and this is verbal privilege
Your purpose is to make your audience see what you saw, hear what you heard, feel what you felt.
I think the written word is probably the best medium of communication because you have time to reflect, you have time to choose your words, to get your sentences exactly right. Whereas when you're being interviewed, say, you have to talk on the fly, you have to improvise, you can change sentences around, and they're not exactly right.
A speech is something you say so as to distract attention from what you do not say.
Language just gradually came in, one or two stressed words a time. Before then, I would just scream. I couldn't talk. I couldn't get my words out. So the only way I could tell someone what I wanted was to scream. If I didn't want to wear a hat, the only way I knew to communicate was screaming and throwing it on the floor.
Words are such uncertain things, they so often sound well but mean the opposite of what one thinks they do.
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