Grice, Paul

"Irony works only when both parties understand the violation of expectation."

"Every conversation is an act of creation."

"To listen well is to understand not just words but intentions."

"The maxim of quality: try to make your contribution one that is true."

"Conventional implicature is woven into the very fabric of language."

"A breach of the maxim of relevance creates confusion and frustration."

"Language is a social phenomenon, and meaning is fundamentally shared."

"The art of conversation lies in knowing what to say and what to leave unsaid."

"To communicate effectively, one must consider the perspective of others."

"Presupposition underlies much of what we take for granted in speech."

"The meaning of a question is not always what it appears to be."

"An indirect speech act can be more persuasive than a direct one."

"To misunderstand someone's meaning is to miss an opportunity for connection."

"The cooperative principle is not a rule imposed from without, but arises naturally."

"What is left implicit is often more powerful than what is stated explicitly."

"Language allows us to share not just information but understanding."

"The meaning of a word depends upon those who speak it and those who hear it."

"To communicate is to risk misunderstanding, but also to invite understanding."

"Conversational implicature is the glue that holds discourse together."

"A speaker who flouts the maxims is playing a linguistic game."

"The most successful communication happens when both parties are fully engaged."

"Truth in communication is not merely factual accuracy, but honest intention."

"The listener's role in creating meaning is as important as the speaker's."

"To be understood, one must first understand one's audience."

"Language is the bridge between individual minds."

"The principle of relevance governs what we choose to say in any given moment."

"Politeness is often the graceful flouting of conversational maxims."

"To communicate well is to practice a form of intellectual humility."

"The hidden meaning in an utterance reveals much about the speaker's character."

"Conversation is where human beings most fully exercise their rationality."