Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.

Summary

This quote suggests that the majority of people approach listening not to genuinely understand others, but rather with the aim of formulating a response. In many conversations, individuals often focus more on preparing their own retort or expressing their own opinions rather than actively comprehending what the other person is saying. The quote reminds us of the importance of practicing empathetic listening, where our primary objective should be to deeply understand the speaker's perspective before responding, fostering better communication and connection.

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