Poirot," I said. "I have been thinking." "An admirable exercise my friend. Continue it.
Agatha ChristieRead
Words are such uncertain things, they so often sound well but mean the opposite of what one thinks they do.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Words can be misleading, often conveying meanings contrary to what we intend.
This quote highlights the often deceptive nature of language, where words might sound pleasant or appropriate but can carry meanings that are vastly different from the speaker's intentions. Agatha Christie suggests that communication is fraught with ambiguity and uncertainty, encouraging a deeper consideration of the words we choose and their potential interpretations.
Themes
WordsCommunicationMeaningMisunderstandingLanguage
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about effective communication, this quote can highlight the importance of clarity.
More from Agatha Christie
All quotes βBest of an island is once you get there - you can't go any farther...you've come to the end of things.
Agatha ChristieRead
Where large sums of money are concerned, it is advisable to trust nobody.
Agatha ChristieRead
I have wanted . . . to commit a murder myself. I recognized this as the desire of the artist to express himself! . . . But-incongruous as it may seem to some-I was restrained and hampered by my innate sense of justice. The innocent must not suffer.
Agatha ChristieRead
Sitting here with one's knitting, one just sees the facts. -"The Blood-Stained Pavement
Agatha ChristieRead
No, my friend, I am not drunk. I have just been to the dentist, and need not return for another six months! Is it not the most beautiful thought? --Poirot
Agatha ChristieRead
Similar quotes
In true dialogue, both sides are willing to change.
Nhat HanhRead
Merely stating a truth isn't enough. The truth has to be made vivid, interesting, dramatic. You have to use showmanship.
Dale CarnegieRead
Communication starts with the understanding that there is my point of view (my truth) and someone else's point of view (his truth). Rarely is there one absolute truth, so people who believe that they speak the truth are very silencing of others.
Sheryl SandbergRead
Speak properly, and in as few words as you can, but always plainly; for the end of speech is not ostentation, but to be understood.
William PennRead
A good conversationalist is not one who remembers what was said, but says what someone wants to remember.
John Mason BrownRead
Listening is not understanding the words of the question asked, listening is understanding why the question was asked in the first place.
Simon SinekRead