Conversation | AdventAI

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 13, 1879

Conversation.

HE alone can become a truly accomplished conversationalist who is gifted with a kind heart, and such a person will always take pleasure in conquering the painful diffidence of others, and in breaking away the limits which separate them from "life."

Many persons suffer most unjustly under the imputation of having nothing to say, when the truth is, that few comparative strangers have ever conversed much with them. I believe it will be found that, in most cases, these silent persons are far better worth knowing than the majority of chatterers of common place trifles.

If you are so unfortunate as to feel a tremor at the thought of encountering strangers in society, remember that they simply form a collection of persons, with whom you would have no difficulty in conversing singly.

If you are conscious of possessing general information equal to that of those whom you expect to meet, and are yourself respectable as regards personal appearance, venture confidently and calmly on the ordeal. You will soon find it is like learning to swim, and that there is no difficulty or danger, even in the first plunge, which is not entirely imaginary. Let nothing deter you, come what may. If in certain circles you meet with people who are unkind enough to be indifferent, or annoy you more directly, take no notice of it; above all, do nothing to revenge yourself, and console your mind with the indubitable truth, that if you avoid acting as they have done, the time will come when you will be far their superior as regards the practice of all in "the art of society" which can make you truly esteemed.