Quotes About Engagement

It's a principle of mine to come into the story as late as possible, and to tell it as fast as you can.

While we read a novel, we are insane--bonkers. We believe in the existence of people who aren't there, we hear their voices, we watch the battle of Borodino with them, we may even become Napoleon. Sanity returns (in most cases) when the book is closed.

as they are never more at home with their own hearts while so occupied. —Nathaniel

A college lecture is a queer thing, for people not accustomed to it. The Professor isn't exactly dictating the lecture, and he isn't exactly talking, and the class are not exactly taking dictation and they're not exactly listening. It's a system they both have grown so used to that it's second nature.

It was never a case of just going through the motions.

I tend to believe that computers are drawing kids -- and adults -- away from reading purely because they provide an alternative, vast source of spare-time amusement and entertainment. I recently heard a frightening statistic: there are less than one million true readers in this country (those who read every day instead of one book per year on a beach). Terrifying.

I think humor is warmer, and wit is colder. Wit is judgment, whereas humor invites some sort of response.

A community is a butcher and a doctor, a minister, a town troublemaker. A "community" is not a bunch of people united by some grievance. That's just self-righteousness -- incredibly dangerous and antidemocratic.

Never take your eyes off your opponent ... even when you're bowing!

Seventy-seven percent of teachers admit that their teaching would be more effective if they did not have to spend so much time dealing with disruptive students (Public Agenda, 2004).

Leaders must be good listeners. It's rule number one, and it's the most powerful thing they can do to build trusted relationships.

some leaders don't want to celebrate with their team because they are afraid—yes, afraid that if they celebrate, people will quit working hard and lower the standards. I say don't let your fear take you out.

Over-communicating is the glue that holds a high-performing team together and keeps them focused in the same direction. And, it circles back to clarity. Without good, consistent communication, you don't have clarity.

It was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in.

Management is nothing more than motivating other people.

I forgot to shake hands and be friendly. It was an important lesson about leadership.

Talk to people in their own language. If you do it well, they'll say, 'God, he said exactly what I was thinking.' And when they begin to respect you, they'll follow you to the death.

Start with good people, lay out the rules, communicate with your employees, motivate them and reward them. If you do all those things effectively, you can't miss.

What is it that you like doing? If you don't like it, get out of it, because you'll be lousy at it.

That which is written without much effort is seldom read with much pleasure.

I think the most important thing is to be busy, because if you have work occupying you, you don't have time to worry about the other serious problems in life.

It was not apathy. It was an intelligent disinterest in those things that could have no bearing on one's existence.

Keep good eye contact.

I always try to turn the spotlight on the other person." The longer you keep it shining away from you, the more interesting he or she finds you.