I have often watched a man become dull as lead when he speaks only of his own gain, his eyes dimming until he seems dead within his own skin. Yet the moment he turns to speak of another’s benefit, that same man springs back to life with a brightness that was hidden all along. It is not kindness that wakes him, but the sudden proximity of his interest; for without it, our very souls are paralyzed, unable to see, hear, or move.

Do you find yourself growing heavy when you speak only of your own affairs? Remember that your spirit moves only when your interest is near, and that this truth should make you careful not to burden others with a dullness born of self-absorption. Seek to speak where your interest aligns with theirs, for it is there alone that conversation truly lives.