On conversation
The goal of human conversation is not to win. It is not to expose, belittle, rebut, or refute. It is, rather, to discover, learn, contribute, and enjoy in the presence of an acknowledged equal. The goal is mutual profit, not private victory; this is felt as much in the tone as in the substance of what is said. There are human interactions in which other, more warlike objectives have a place; but one never seriously calls cross-examination a “conversation.”
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