of many nations was immeasurably influenced by the thoughts that streamed out

from those rich well-springs.

 

Most of the world-moving speeches are made in the course of conversation.

Conferences of diplomats, business-getting arguments, decisions by boards of

directors, considerations of corporate policy, all of which influence the

political, mercantile and economic maps of the world, are usually the results of

careful though informal conversation, and the man whose opinions weigh in such

crises is he who has first carefully pondered the words of both antagonist and

protagonist.

 

However important it may be to attain self-control in light social converse, or

about the family table, it is undeniably vital to have oneself perfectly in hand

while taking part in a momentous conference. Then the hints that we have given

on poise, alertness, precision of word, clearness of statement, and force of

utterance, with respect to public speech, are equally applicable to

conversation.

 

The form of nervous egotism--for it is both--that suddenly ends in flusters just

when the vital words need to be uttered, is the sign of coming defeat, for a

conversation is often a contest. If you feel this tendency embarrassing you, be

sure to listen to Holmes's advice:

 

And when you stick on conversational burs, Don't strew your pathway with those

dreadful _urs_.