Top 50 Quotes About Communication to Effectively Relay Your Message

Communication is vital in everyday life, no matter the circumstance. Read our guide with quotes about communication to learn what makes an excellent communicator.

Communication is a written and verbal interaction where thoughts and words become meaningful. Everyone can write or talk, but not everyone is an effective communicator. Below are the best communication quotes that reveal the importance of improving skills, gaining new perspectives, and delivering better messages to build stronger and healthier relationships.

1. Aaron Goldman

“Communicate unto the other person that which you would want him to communicate unto you if your positions were reversed.”

Aaron Goldman

Speak to others in a way that you would like to be spoken to yourself, treat others with the kindness you would like to be treated with.

2. Albert Einstein

“I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.”

Albert Einstein

Einstein interacted with people around him with civility. When communicating, you should treat people respectfully regardless of their status and use an appropriate tone to avoid misunderstandings.

3. Andrea Plos 

“Use different messaging for different groups to ensure your communications are relevant.”

Andrea Plos

Like marketing a product, you must consider many factors, such as your recipient’s demographics or age, to convey your messages appropriately.

4. Anne Morrow Lindbergh 

“Good communication is just as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.”

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Excellent communication must be gripping. It captures attention and keeps it even after the discourse. It must stir emotions and can also serve as a distraction. 

5. Anthony Robbins 

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

Anthony Robbins

A conversation can brighten someone’s day or even change their whole outlook on life. In the Law of Attraction, you’ll garner positive results if you think and speak positively.

6. Barack Obama 

“It’s important to make sure that we’re talking with each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds.”

Barack Obama

It’s simple yet profound advice from one of America’s greatest presidents. Pondering about what you say before saying it is critical to avoid hurting others.

7. Brian Tracy

“Communication is a skill that you can learn. It’s like riding a bicycle or typing. If you’re willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life.”

Brian Tracy

Effective communication is a skill you must hone through constant practice and learning.

8. Buddha 

“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.”

Buddha

Buddha expects everyone to be thoughtful communicators who choose their words wisely. Positive comments inspire, but negative words can leave lasting damage.

9. Charles Darwin 

“It is the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) that those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”

Charles Darwin

The genius naturalist believed in the power of teamwork to achieve goals. Such as in the case of collaborative writing, where communication is crucial. 

10. Christopher Morley 

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

Christopher Morley

Communication is a two-way street – you talk, and you listen.

11. Cole Todd 

“Communication is humanity’s greatest blessing, although efforts to establish it can feel like humanity’s greatest curse.”

Cole Todd

Todd’s fictional book, Burn Out of a Fairy Godmother, points out how free speech can be a blessing when used right or a curse when abused and employed to hurt others.

12. Dale Carnegie

“Great speakers are not born, they’re trained.”

Dale Carnegie

Like athletes or chefs, communicators train and upskill themselves to connect with others effectively. For example, they learn the right loudness and correct voice to use.

13. Dr. Michelle Mazur 

“When you start communicating to change people, you leave a lasting legacy. You profit from your impact, not in spite of it.”

Dr. Michelle Mazur

In her book, 3 Word Rebellion, Mazur talks about growing a business into a movement related to communication. For her, sharing ideas and making others messengers of your message is a gift you can offer everyone.

14. Dr. Gary Chapman 

“Communication involves self-revelation on the part of one individual and listening on the part of another.”

Dr. Gary Chapman

Conversation happens between two parties, the speaker and the listener. Both must be willing to participate and understand the other for the discourse to be productive. 

15. Edward R. Murrow 

“The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue.”

Edward R. Murrow

The American journalist, Murrow, refers to gossip as a way to pass information. It’s impressive but dangerous as it changes many aspects of the original story. 

16. Emma Thompson 

“Any problem, big or small, within a family, always seems to start with bad communication. Someone isn’t listening.”

Emma Thompson

This quote also applies to businesses, teams, and other groups that need to communicate. Successful communication prevents misunderstandings.

17. Epictetus 

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

Epictetus

Epictetus was a Greek philosopher known for his ethical thoughts and teaching methods. An effective communicator allows others to be heard to cultivate trust and improve comprehension.

18. Ernest Hemingway 

“When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.”

Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway, one of the best American authors of all time, believes listening is essential for better communication. In most cases, people only listen to something they want to hear. Don’t do this. Instead, have a broad mind and entertain others’ ideas. 

19. Franklin D. Roosevelt 

“Be sincere; Be brief; Be seated.” 

Franklin D. Roosevelt

The former president’s advice is succinct but packed with valuable concepts. Show sincerity by being yourself while conveying messages. Your audience will appreciate your honesty.

20. George Bernard Shaw 

“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”

George Bernard Shaw

Instead of settling with a nod from the other party, ask questions or bounce off ideas. This way, you’ll be certain that the participants are engaged and on the same page.

21. Grady Roche 

“If you don’t seem confident of what you say or your speech is stuffed with instances of throat-clearing and fillers, why would the listener have any concrete faith in your words either? “

Grady Roche

As a speaker, you must have the conviction to leave a lasting impression when delivering messages. 

22. Henry Winkler 

“Assumptions are the termites of relationships.”

Henry Winkler

Winkler points out the detrimental impact of a lack of communication in relationships. Proper correspondence builds trust and fends off misguided assumptions.

23. Horace

“The pen is the tongue of the mind.”

Horace

A pen is a tool used to convey what’s on the writer’s mind. What the writers fail to speak of, they share on paper.  

24. Jada Pinkett Smith

“My belief is that communication is the best way to create strong relationships.”

Jada Pinkett Smith

Good communication is beneficial to all relationships. When partners can freely express their needs and wants, there’s no room for misconceptions and arguing.

25. Jim Rohn 

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

Jim Rohn

Communication is not just about facts.Talking about what you know is not as important as recognizing how you should convey it.

26. Joel Osteen 

“You can change your world by changing your words… Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

Joel Osteen

Words are powerful and can determine who lives and dies, such as in the case of the Salem Witch Trials. Good communicators must be open and frank. But they must also consider fairness and empathy.

27. John Wayne 

“Talk low, talk slow, and don’t say too much.”

John Wayne

Be polite when speaking, and people will want to speak with you. Choose words that are easy to understand and have a friendly tone, and only talk about what’s important.

28. Johnny Tan 

“Although we live in an information technology age, we often find ourselves in failure to communicate situations.”

Johnny Tan

Today, technology provides various communication tools and apps. Because of this, many take communication for granted and often misinterpret dialogues they read on their screens.

29. Keith Boyer 

“You must be able to communicate successfully in order to become a leader and someone others listen to.”

Keith Boyer

A good leader is both a confident speaker and an active listener. People want leaders who listen to their opinions and assist them in achieving their goals. 

30. Lisa Kleypas 

“Many times, in life I’ve regretted the things I’ve said without thinking. But I’ve never regretted the things I said nearly as much as the words I left unspoken.”

Lisa Kleypas

Sometimes, to make the other party completely understand what we mean, we must tell them our thoughts without any filters. Uncomfortable but honest communication is better than white lies and regrets.

31. Lou Rawls 

“Music is the greatest communication in the world. Even if people don’t understand the language that you’re singing in, they still know good music when they hear it.”

Lou Rawls

Music transcends language barriers. Even if they’re not directly translated into a specific language, the feelings they evoke in their listeners are the same throughout.

32. Luigina Sgarro

“There is no communication that is so simple that it cannot be misunderstood.”

Luigina Sgarro

Most writers and public speakers aim to get their message across in a concise but precise manner. It’s a challenging skill to develop, as short statements can easily be misinterpreted.

33. Malala Yousufzai

“The best way to solve problems and to fight against war is through dialogue.”

Malala Yousufzai

Effective communication saves resources and lives, such as in the case of peace talks. Successful peace talks allow everyone involved to work together and maintain harmony.

34. Maya Angelou 

“The idea is to write it so that people hear it and it slides through the brain and goes straight to the heart.”

Maya Angelou

All forms of communication must be digestible. Readers or listeners must find it easy to discern what a message means without leaving room for questions or speculations.

35. Milton Erickson

“The effectiveness of communication is not defined by the communication, but by the response.”

Milton Erickson

You’ll know you successfully conveyed a message when you receive a relevant answer. A significant purpose of communication is to inform and influence. When the intended audience gives an appropriate reply, you’ll be sure your message is acknowledged.

36. Oliver Sacks 

“We speak not only to tell other people what we think, but to tell ourselves what we think. Speech is a part of thought.”

Oliver Sacks

Self-talk is healthy. It lets you learn more about yourself and explore your thoughts, which can assist you in decision-making.

37. Oprah Winfrey

“Great communication begins with connection.”

Oprah Winfrey

Excellent communicators know how to connect and bond with others so their audience becomes willing to listen and understand their perspectives.

38. Peter Drucker 

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

Peter Drucker

Pay attention to what lies beneath a person’s words. Often, the most important message lies between the lines of what is said.

39. Plato 

“Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something.”

Plato

Be an intelligent communicator. Only speak when it’s your time, and ensure you have a good purpose for speaking. 

40. Rania Al-Abdullah

“We are stronger when we listen, and smarter when we share.”

Rania Al-Abdullah

Listening makes you wiser. Then, you can share the wisdom you received and influence others.

41. Robert Barr

“No one can tell, when two people walk closely together, what unconscious communication one mind may have with another.”

Robert Barr

We are all closer than we think. Everyone involved recognizes each encounter with unspoken communication, even if no words are said.

42. Robert Frost 

“Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.”

Robert Frost

Many people have the platform to speak their minds but don’t use it for good. Similarly, some want to share their thoughts on important issues but don’t have an audience.

43. Seth Godin

“The less people know, the more they yell.”

Seth Godin

Fools often have a lot to say, but what they say doesn’t have a core message. Good communicators only speak when they want to shift the attention to a pressing matter.

44. Shannon l. Alder

“Communication is the one class no one graduates from. Even the wisest man’s words will be misinterpreted by a fool.”

Shannon l. Alder

Others can misunderstand even the best communicator’s words. This doesn’t mean the speaker isn’t talented. It just means that no one is free from fools’ misconstrued conceptions.

45. Stephen Covey 

“Only as we keep an open communication with our deep inner life will we have the wisdom to make effective choices.”

Stephen Covey

You must also learn how to communicate with yourself to understand your goals. Connecting with yourself will give you the ability to associate well with others.

46. Steve Maraboli

“A beautiful thing happens when we start paying attention to each other. It is by participating more in your relationship that you breathe life into it.”

Steve Maraboli

Be committed to your relationship and nurture proper communication. Build a strong foundation by being present and attentive.

47. Sydney J. Harris

“The two words’ information’ and ‘communication’ are often used interchangeably, but they signify quite different things. Information is giving out; communication is getting through.”

Sydney J. Harris

When communicating, always strive to get the information to the right audience. Effective communication helps convey the correct information.

48. Thumper from Bambi

“If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Thumper from Bambi

Words are dangerous weapons that can cause pain. Any negative comments heard, spoken of, or thought of by someone can cause situational stress and long-term anxiety.

49. Tony Robbins

“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.”

Tony Robbins

We see the world based on our individual experiences. To be an effective communicator, you must realize that not everyone will agree with you. 

50. Maya Angelou 

“Writing and cookery are just two different means of communication.” 

Maya Angelou

Sharing sentiments through letters and cooking are altruistic acts that strengthen your bond with others.

Final Words on Quotes About Communication

Quotes about communication motivate us to become effective communicators. They also educate us on the benefits of adequately relaying our feelings and thoughts. These benefits include fostering trust and honesty, improving collaboration and productivity, preventing and resolving issues, and building better relationships. Excellent communicators can clearly express their intentions and avoid misunderstandings.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out our round-up of essays about communication.