any criticism heard secondhand sounds worse than it would face to face. Words spoken out of our presence strike us as more powerful, just as people we know only by reputation seem larger than life.

For most women, the language of conversation is primarily a language of rapport: a way of establishing connections and negotiating relationships.

The biggest mistake is believing there is one right way to listen, to talk, to have a conversation - or a relationship.

Part of the reason images of women in positions of authority are marked by their gender is that the very notion of authority is associated with maleness.

Male-female conversation is cross-cultural communication

Many men honestly do not know what women want, and women honestly do not know why men find what they want so hard to comprehend and deliver.

We tend to look through language and not realize how much power language has

Cooperation isn't the absence of conflict but a means of managing conflict.

The desire for freedom and independence becomes more of an issue for many men in relationships, whereas interdependence and connection become more of an issue for many women.

More men feel comfortable doing "public speaking," while more women feel comfortable doing "private" speaking.

We all know we are unique individuals, but we tend to see others as representatives of groups.

It's so trendy, almost bleeding to death. All the cool girls are doing it.

Love is not for thrill-seekers, dreamers, or children with short attention spans. And you, son, fit into all three of those categories.

Unconditional love is what a child should expect from a parent even though it rarely works out that way.

I showed people that it's not about guessing what people can do. It's about saying, 'Here, show me what you can do.'

I don't tie my shoes right. I tie them the way you would tie a gift, like a bow.

Most things are predestined, but some are just darn sheer luck, said Roaring Abel.

An absence of meaning opens a gap in time.

My ideal reader is me. And yes, my ideal reader comes with me and is forgiving.

Make the iron hot by striking it.

We got great ratings and fan interest, and that's what management wanted.