The principles of the art of conversation / by J.P. Mahaffy.

Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The principles of the art of conversation / by J.P. Mahaffy. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    suiting the discourse to whatever subject may turn up ? The instant any one is felt to be talking by rules all the charm of his society vanishes, and he becomes the worst of social culprits—a bore. For it is the natural easy flow of talk which is indeed the perfection of what we seek. Didactic teaching, humorous anecdotes, clever argument—these may take their part in social intercourse, but they are not its perfection. To take up what others say in easy comment, to give in return something which will please, to stimulate the silent and the morose out of their vapours and surprise them into good- humour, to lead while one seems to follow—this is the real aim of good con- versation. How can such a Protean im- palpable acquirement be in any way an art depending on rules ? Does it not altogether depend on natural gifts, on a ready power of expression, on a sanguine temperament, on a quick power of sym-
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