Every word he speaks is a syren's note
To draw the careless hearer. [ Beaumont ]

Her words were like a stream of honey fleeting.
That which doth softly trickle from the hive,
Able to melt the hearer's heart unweeting,
And eke to make the dead again alive. [ Spenser ]

Either the hearer or relater of fopperies, must be a fool. [ Proverb ]

The happiest word is scorned, if the hearer has a twisted ear. [ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ]

The tale-bearer and the tale-hearer should be both hanged up, back to back, one by the tongue, the other by the ear. [ South ]

Words of cheer thrill not only the soul of the hearer, but equally the soul of the speaker, because they are God's words. [ Unknown ]

Kind words are benedictions. They are not only instruments of power, but of benevolence and courtesy; blessings both to the speaker and hearer of them. [ Frederick Saunders ]

Every man should study conciseness in speaking; it is a sign of ignorance not to know that long speeches, though they may please the speaker, are the torture of the hearer. [ Feltham ]

Might I give counsel to any young hearer, I would say to him, try to frequent the company of your betters. In books and life is the most wholesome society; learn to admire rightly; the great pleasure of life is that. Note what the great men admire, - they admired great things; narrow spirits admire basely, and worship meanly. [ Thackeray ]