I was shown that my words should be few, savoury, and seasoned with grace.

-- George Fox, Journal, 1694

The person who will listen and not give advice is a precious presence on this earth.

-- Robert P. Wightman, in "Listening with a Simple Heart," 15th Street Meeting Book of Quotations, 1989

Thoughtful listening is as important as speaking, and a necessary part of resolving our conflicts. If we listen attentively to the expression of the Spirit, in ourselves and in others, words and action can become a means of knowing God, a form of prayer. To speak, write, or act from the truth of our lives brings spiritual force to bear on us in ways that may develop into concerns or leadings if we listen further.

We need symbols to communicate our experience of God, but let us not confuse the description with the reality, or assume that everyone has the same angle of vision. Rather let us say, THIS I KNOW EXPERIMENTALLY, and then ask, WHAT CANST THOU SAY?

-- Elizabeth Watson, 1977 Friends General Conference Rufus Jones Lecture

The Hebrew prophets, our Society's founders, and dissidents in all times often found themselves in conflict with others for speaking from inward-directed truth. This habit is a source of controversy today, even amongst ourselves, when our experiences and the ways in which we communicate them do not fit others' perceptions or convictions. We encourage Friends to express, listen to, and welcome disagreements as new ways to understand the truth.

I am fully persuaded that if there was less tattling and scribbling and more praying, there would be happiness among us. The spirit of bitterness and malignity is like the whirlwind, that threatens to carry us away in the tempest.

-- Edward Hicks, Journal, 1825

Do our words tend towards the harmony, love, and truth that glorify God? To speak the truth is important, and sometimes truth will necessarily cause pain in the process of healing, but we would do well before we speak to consider that our words may hurt others or stir up ill feeling or partisanship.