The art of conversation

Found a great article in the Economist about conversation. Here are the main rules:

"The rules we learn from Cicero are these: speak clearly; speak easily but not too much, especially when others want their turn; do not interrupt; be courteous; deal seriously with serious matters and gracefully with lighter ones; never criticise people behind their backs; stick to subjects of general interest; do not talk about yourself; and, above all, never lose your temper. Probably only two cardinal rules were lacking from Cicero's list: remember people's names, and be a good listener."

Read the whole article here: Economist: The art of conversation