self-expression. A good conversationalist who monopolizes all the conversation,

will be voted a bore because he denies others the enjoyment of self-expression,

while a mediocre talker who listens interestedly may be considered a good

conversationalist because he permits his companions to please themselves through

self-expression. They are praised who please: they please who listen well.

 

The first step in remedying habits of confusion in manner, awkward bearing,

vagueness in thought, and lack of precision in utterance, is to recognize your

faults. If you are serenely unconscious of them, no one--least of all

yourself--can help you. But once diagnose your own weaknesses, and you can

overcome them by doing four things:

 

1. _WILL_ to overcome them, and keep on willing.

 

2. Hold yourself in hand by assuring yourself that you know precisely what you

ought to say. If you cannot do that, be quiet until you are clear on this vital

point.

 

3. Having thus assured yourself, cast out the fear of those who listen to

you--they are only human and will respect your words if you really have

something to say and say it briefly, simply, and clearly.

 

4. Have the courage to study the English language until you are master of at

least its simpler forms.