I have always liked that saying about how we all have two ears and only one mouth, but somehow the one mouth works more than the two ears put together. It is so true; there seems to be a deficit in real, true listening. This deficit is not just happening during class, when you can look around and see that people are not listening to whatever today’s lecture is. It is happening even when it looks like people are listening -- like during a two-way conversation. 

Recently, I have been more aware of conversations that seem to be split 50/50, but neither side is really doing that much active listening. They are more just waiting for an in, on what the other person is saying, that they can use to relate the conversation back to their personal experiences.    

This is only natural, as our own lives are the most real things to us. It is probably even human nature. Still, I wonder what would happen if we all made a point to listen a little better to what other people are actually saying to us.   

Being guilty of this lack of listening, myself, it seems appropriate that I stop spitting up my own thoughts on the matter and listen to some wise words that others have provided. Here are some earspirational quotes for your viewing pleasure.   

“I remind myself every morning: nothing I say this day will teach me anything. So if I'm going to learn, I must do it by listening.” Larry King.     

“Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you’d have preferred to talked.” Doug Larson.     

“We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say.” Zeno of Citium.   

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” Stephen R. Covey.     

“Shut up and dance.” Walk the Moon, from the song “Shut Up and Dance.”