Communication is the transfer of ideas, Information or words between two parties.

Sounds easy right?

Why then do conflict and misunderstanding arise amongst family, spouse, or team members?

This brings to mind that there is more to effective communication than you think. 

Hence, I’ve put together effective communication quotes that will inspire better listening and understanding across all areas of your life. 

Before we dive in;

I recommend you keep a pen and notebook closer to jot down those communication quotes that you might need to ponder upon later. 

Why Communication Matters

Humans are social beings, and need to interact with others to keep surviving— physically, emotionally, mentally, and other essential survival requirements. 

Psychologs rightly state, “Our social nature, which has been crucial to our evolution, the development of our communities, and our ability to adapt to and thrive in a wide range of conditions, is one trait that distinguishes us from other animals.”

Here are more reasons to take communication quotes more seriously:

• Enhances Relationship: Effective communication skills serve as a foundation for relating with others in personal and professional settings.

• Avert misunderstanding: When you can tell others what you have in mind and they in turn get you, it keeps off confusion, errors and conflict.

• Team collaboration and Teamwork: Goals, ideas and instructions are best shared amongst team members when communication is clear—streamline processes, save time and resources.

• Conflict resolution: Conflicts are best resolved through communication which aid in addressing issues amicably.

• Boost feedback: Team members, friends and families can boldly share constructive feedback amongst each other without igniting conflict.

• Empathy: You grow a deep sense of understanding regarding the thoughts, feelings, and emotional states of another person. 

Famous Communication Quotes for Active Listening

The day I learned that communication is more of listening than speaking, my outlook on life changed positively. 

Invest more time in learning communication quotes that inspire you to be an active listener:

1. “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.” – Stephen R. Covey

2. “Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self.” – Dean Jackson

3. “One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.” – Bryant H. McGill

4. “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.” – Ernest Hemingway

5. “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.” – Peter Drucker

6. “We have two ears and one mouth, so we should listen more than we say.” – Zeno of Citium

7. “Listening is being able to be changed by the other person.” – Alan Alda

8. “The first duty of love is to listen.” – Paul Tillich

9. “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” – Stephen R. Covey

10. “You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.” – by M. Scott Peck 

11. “A good listener is not only popular everywhere but, after a while, he knows something.” – Wilson Mizner

12. “Listening is the beginning of understanding.” – communication quotes from Buddha

13. “The biggest communication problem is we do not listen to understand. We listen to reply.” – Unknown

14. “Speak in such a way that others love to listen to you. Listen in such a way that others love to speak to you.” – Unknown

15. “To listen well is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well.” – John Marshall

16. “Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.” – Jim Rohn

17. “Listening is often the only thing needed to help someone.” – Unknown

18. “Good listening is the key to developing fresh insights and ideas.” – Unknown

19. “There is only one rule for being a good talker – learn to listen.” – Christopher Morley

20. “A listening ear is a healing friend.” – Unknown

21. “An intelligent person is someone who listens with understanding.” –  Unknown

22. “True listening is a skill that requires practice.” – Unknown

23. “The greatest compliment that was ever paid to me was when someone asked me what I thought and then actually listened to my answer.” – Communication quotes from Henry David Thoreau

24. “In every conversation, try to listen twice as much as you speak.” – Unknown

25. “Listening with empathy is the foundation of effective communication.” – Unknown

26. “When we listen, we create a mirror that helps others understand themselves.” – Unknown

27. “If you make listening and observation your occupation, you will gain much more than you can by talking.” – Robert Baden-Powell

28. “The art of conversation lies in listening.” – Malcolm Forbes

29. “The quieter you become, the more you can hear.” – Ram Dass

30. “Many a man would rather you heard his story than granted his request.” – Philip Stanhope

31. “Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.” – Nat Turner

32. “Listening is the only way to understand what another person really means.” – Unknown

33. “There’s a lot of difference between listening and hearing.” – G. K. Chesterton

34. “In the end, peace is not about agreeing; it’s about respecting differences.” – Unknown

35. “True wisdom is less presuming and ready to listen.” – William Penn

36. “Just the act of listening means more than you can imagine.” – Communication quotes from Bob Nelson

37. “Listening is a high art. It has to be learned.” – Unknown

38. “A healthy conversation can only occur when we truly listen to one another.” – Unknown

39. “People start to heal the moment they feel heard.” – Cheryl Richardson

40. “Listening shows respect. It shows that you value the other person.” – Unknown

41. “Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another.” – J. Isham

42. “The ability to listen is essential for understanding and growth.” – Unknown

43. “Sometimes all someone needs is for someone to listen and understand them.” – Unknown

44. “Listening is a magnetic force that draws people together.” –Communication quotes from Karl A. Menninger

45. “Most of the successful people I’ve known are the ones who do more listening than talking.” – Bernard Baruch

46. “Listening actively is the first step to clear communication.” – Unknown

47. “We listen to respond, but we must learn to listen to understand.” – Unknown

48. “The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.” – Communication quotes from Bertrand Russell

49. “Listening has the potential to transform relationships and build trust.” – Unknown

50. “To listen well, it’s as important to stop talking as it is to hear.” – Unknown

Inspiring Communication Quotes for Effective Workplace 

Seamless working relationship between employer and employee is achievable. 

It doesn’t have to be a tug of war between you and your boss every Monday.

I’ve put together inspiring communication quotes for effective workplace:

 51. “Good communication is just as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.” – Anne Morrow Lindbergh

52. “The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.” – Tony Robbins

53. “Communication – the human connection – is the key to personal and career success.” – Paul J. Meyer

54. “Honest communication is built on truth and integrity and upon respect of the one for the other.” – Benjamin E. Mays

55. “Effective communication is the foundation of successful relationships, both personal and professional.” – Unknown

56. “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

57. “Communication is the solvent of all problems and is the foundation for personal development.” – Peter Shepherd

58. “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.” – George Bernard Shaw

59. “To communicate effectively, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world.” – Communication quotes from Tony Robbins

60. “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” – Rudyard Kipling

61. “The art of communication is the language of leadership.” – James Humes

62. “Effective communication helps to keep the team working on the right projects with the right attitude.” – Alex Langer

63. “You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can’t get them across, your ideas won’t get you anywhere.” – Lee Iacocca

64. “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” – Communication quotes from Mother Teresa

65. “The way you communicate is often more important than the words you use.” —Unknown

66. “Clear communication is a direct reflection of clarity of thought.” –Unknown

67. “Communication works for those who work at it.” – John Powell

68. “To effectively communicate, we must listen as well as we speak.” – Unknown

69. “The best way to handle conflict is with clear, open, and honest communication.” – Unknown

70. “Communication must be hot. That’s honest, open, and two-way.” – communication quotes from Dan Oswald

71. “An organization’s success is based on the communication between all levels of the team.” – Unknown

72. “If you just communicate, you can get by. But if you communicate skillfully, you can work miracles.” – Jim Rohn

73. “To listen well is as powerful a means of influence as to talk well.” – John Marshall

74. “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. Kennedy

75. “Good communication is the key to a good team.” – Unknown

76. “Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.” – Communication quotes from Andrew Jackson

77. “Communication is the lifeline of any team. Without it, teams would not function.” – Unknown

78. “Effective communication opens up new doors to productivity and innovation.” – Unknown

79. “Teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability.” – Patrick Lencioni

80. “One way to boost our willpower and focus is to manage our distractions instead of letting them manage us.” – communication quotes from Daniel Goleman

81. “Effective communication is the backbone of teamwork.” – Unknown

82. “Leadership and communication are inseparable. One can’t exist without the other.” – Unknown

83. “Words can inspire, and words can destroy. Choose yours well.” – Robin Sharma

84. “We all communicate better when we feel respected and valued.” – Unknown

85. “People work better when they’re understood and valued, and communication is the way to show them that.” – Unknown

86. “Clarity in communication is key to effective teamwork.” – Unknown

87. “Listening is not waiting for your turn to speak. It’s about understanding and respect.” – Unknown

88. “The role of leadership is to transform the complex into the simple, the unclear into the clear.” – Communication quotes from Marcus Buckingham

89. “The quality of your communication is the quality of your life.” – Anthony Robbins

90. “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” – Communication quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt

91. “Without clear communication, you lose efficiency, productivity, and unity.” – Unknown

92. “Understanding others’ perspectives is a vital part of communicating well.” –Unknown

93. “Effective communication requires opening up to different views and ways of thinking.” – Unknown

94. “Words create realities. Speak with care and intention.” – Unknown

95. “Listening builds trust, and trust builds teams.” – Unknown

Communication Quotes for Relationship and Family Bonding

Leverage these communication quotes to build in depth relationship and family bonding: 

96. “The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, lies in its loyalty to each other.” – Mario Puzo

97. “Communication is the fuel that keeps the fire of your relationship burning; without it, your relationship goes cold.” – William Paisley

98. “Families are like branches on a tree; we grow in different directions, yet our roots remain as one.” – Unknown

99. “A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” – George Bernard Shaw

100. “Communication to a relationship is like oxygen to life. Without it, it dies.” – Family communication quotes from Tony Gaskins

101. “In family relationships, love is really spelled T-I-M-E.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

102. “Speak with honesty, think with sincerity, and act with integrity.” – Unknown

103. “A family’s strength is measured by its ability to talk openly and honestly.” – Unknown

104. “Family is where life begins and love never ends.” – Unknown

105. “Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway.” – Family communication quotes from Mother Teresa

106. “Speak your mind but don’t forget to listen to others too.” – Unknown

107. “Relationships thrive on trust and open communication.” – Unknown

108. “A family is a place where minds come in contact with one another.” – Buddha

109. “If you want to bring happiness to the world, go home and love your family.” – Mother Teresa

110. “Connection is why we’re here; it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.” – Communication quotes from Brené Brown

111. “The quality of your communication with your family affects the quality of your relationship.” – Unknown

112. “A family doesn’t have to be perfect; it just needs to be united.” – Unknown

113. “Empathy is one of the most essential skills in family communication.” – Unknown

114. “To understand someone’s heart, listen to their words with patience.” – Unknown

115. “True love and family connection flourish in openness and honesty.” – Unknown

116. “Where there is family love, there is happiness.” – Unknown

117. “In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony.” –Family communication quotes from Friedrich Nietzsche

118. “The best thing a parent can do is to listen to their child’s heart.” – Unknown

119. “Love is more than a feeling; it’s an action, a decision to communicate with kindness and respect.” – Unknown

120. “Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.” – David Ogden Stiers

121. “Open, honest communication is the best foundation for any relationship.” – Unknown

122. “Families that communicate together stay connected and happy.” – Unknown

123. “Effective communication is the heartbeat of a healthy family.” – Unknown

124. Sometimes all a person needs is a listening heart.” – Unknown

125. “In every family, understanding each other’s perspective brings peace.” – Unknown

126. “The best conversations happen when we listen as much as we speak.” – Unknown

127. “A strong relationship requires choosing to love each other even on those days when you struggle to like each other.” – Unknown

128. “Families are made by bonds of love and strengthened by communication.” – Unknown

129. “Strong families talk about what they feel, what they need, and how they can help each other grow.” – Unknown

130. “In the end, a loving family is all that matters.” – Unknown

131. “Family is a life jacket in the stormy sea of life.” – Family communication quotes from J.K. Rowling

132. “Love begins by taking care of the closest ones—the ones at home.” – Mother Teresa

132. “To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while.” – Josh Billings

133. “Listening is the best way to show your family they matter.” – Unknown

134. “There is no such thing as a perfect family, only a family that chooses love every day.” – Unknown

135. “Be grateful for your family every day; they are your lifelong connections.” – Unknown

136. “In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, a bridge to our future.” – Family communication quotes from Alex Haley

Valuable Communication Quotes for Students

Learning in both formal and informal educational system is built upon effective communication.

As a student, enhance you learning speed with the below communication quotes: 

137. “Communication is the foundation for all personal development.” – Unknown

138. “Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

139. “To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world.” – Tony Robbins

140. “Your words can plant gardens or burn forests. Choose them wisely.” – Unknown

141. “The ability to communicate well is a skill every student should develop.” – Unknown

142. “The best way to learn is to listen.” – Unknown

143. “In learning, communication and curiosity are inseparable.” – Unknown

144. “The first step to understanding is good communication.” – Unknown

145. “Listen more than you talk. Nobody learned anything by hearing themselves speak.” – Communication quotes from Richard Branson

146. “If you can communicate well, you can navigate through any conversation.” – Unknown

147. “The clearer your message, the easier it is for others to understand you.” – Unknown

148. “Learning to communicate effectively is learning to succeed.” – Unknown

149. “A student’s most valuable tool is their voice and their ability to listen.” – Unknown

150. “Knowledge, alone, is not enough; communication is key to sharing that knowledge.” – Unknown

151. “The quality of your communication reflects the quality of your thinking.” – Unknown

152. “Communication opens doors and builds bridges.” – Unknown

153. “The greatest compliment you can give is to truly listen to someone.” – Bryant H. McGill

154. “We rise by lifting others. And that starts by listening.” – Unknown

155. “Effective communication is the first step toward meaningful learning.” – Unknown

156. “Success in school and life often depends on how well you communicate.” – Unknown

156. “Communication is the lifeline to both personal and academic growth.” – Unknown

157. “In every conversation, there’s an opportunity to learn something new.” – Unknown

158. “What you say matters, but how you say it matters more.” – Unknown

159. “The skill of good communication is a path to greater understanding.” – Unknown

160. “Communication isn’t just talking; it’s also connecting and understanding.” – Unknown

Communication Quotes for Better Conflict Resolution

There are coping strategies to prevent conflict, unfortunately, they aren’t enough to eradicate conflict completely. 

Here are communucation quotes for better conflict resolution: 

161. “The goal of resolving conflict in a relationship is not victory or defeat. It’s reaching understanding and letting go of our need to be right.” – Unknown

162. “Conflict cannot survive without your participation.” – Wayne Dyer

163. “Speak when you are angry—and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” – Laurence J. Peter

164. “When angry, count to ten before you speak. If very angry, a hundred.” – Communication quotes from Thomas Jefferson

165. “Conflict is inevitable, but combat is optional.” – Max Lucado

166. “When dealing with people, remember you are not dealing with creatures of logic, but creatures of emotion.” –Communication quotes from Dale Carnegie

167. “Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it.” – Mahatma Gandhi

168. “Honest communication is built on truth and integrity and upon respect of the one for the other.” – Benjamin E. Mays

169. “Listening is the first step to understanding in any conflict.” – Unknown

170. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1

171. “Words can be powerful, but listening is often the key to resolution.” – Unknown

172. “Seek first to understand, then to be understood.” – Stephen R. Covey

173. “An apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything.” – Lynn Johnston

174. “You don’t have to attend every argument you’re invited to.” – Unknown

175. “Let go of your attachment to being right, and suddenly your mind is more open.” – Communication quotes from Ralph Marston

176. “Peace is not the absence of conflict; it’s the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.” – Ronald Reagan

177. “Compromise is the best and cheapest lawyer.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

178. “The quality of our lives depends not on whether or not we have conflicts, but on how we respond to them.” – Thomas Crum

179. “True listening builds a bridge over which understanding can pass.” – Unknown

180. “Conflict is drama, and how people deal with conflict shows you the kind of people they are.” – Commincation quoted from Stephen Moyer

181. “Handling conflict with grace and maturity is a mark of true leadership.” – Unknown

182. “The best way to resolve any problem is to remove its cause.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

183. “A strong person is not the one who doesn’t cry. A strong person is the one who cries and sheds tears for a moment, then gets up and fights again.” – Unknown

184. “Disagreeing doesn’t mean disrespecting.” – Unknown

185. “Anger doesn’t solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything.” – Lawrence Douglas Wilder

186. “Speak only if it improves upon the silence.” – Communication quotes from Mahatma Gandhi

187. “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” – Lewis B. Smedes

188. “In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.” – Dalai Lama

189. “Discussion is an exchange of knowledge; an argument an exchange of ignorance.” – Robert Quillen

190. “Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” – Buddha

191. “Sometimes, the best way to resolve an argument is to be silent.” – Unknown

192. “You can’t shake hands with a clenched fist.” – Indira Gandhi

193. “A conversation can be the cure to misunderstandings.” – Unknown

194. “Life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never got.” – Communication quotes from Robert Brault

195. “The goal of conflict resolution is not to give in or to win but to understand.” – Unknown

196. “Listening is the magic key to healing and resolving conflicts.” – Unknown

197. “The more arguments you win, the fewer friends you’ll have.” – Unknown

198. “Sometimes people aren’t looking for a solution, but just to feel heard and understood.” – Unknown

199. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Communication quotes from Mahatma Gandhi

200. “Be selective in your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right.” – Unknown

201. “Apologizing doesn’t mean you’re wrong; it means you value the relationship more than your ego.” – Unknown

Final Thoughts on Communication Quotes

Learning to communicate the right way is an art that requires discipline. 

As you relate with others, you have to take a deliberate action to listen more than you say and think before you speak.

Communication quotes are effective when you’re willing to reflect and practice them where they apply. 

I’ll leave you with this quote from Robin Sharma, “Words can inspire, and words can destroy. Choose yours well.”

What are your favorite communication quotes? Do let me know in the comment section.

Frequently Asked Questions