Quotes by Deborah Tannen

The death of compromise has become a threat to our nation as we confront crucial issues such as the debt ceiling and that most basic of legislative responsibilities: a federal budget. At stake is the very meaning of what had once seemed unshakable: the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

Much of my work over the years has developed the premise that womens styles of friendship and conversation arent inherently better than mens, simply different.

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

When daughters react with annoyance or even anger at the smallest, seemingly innocent remarks, mothers get the feeling that talking to their daughters can be like walking on eggshells: they have to watch every word.

Conversations with sisters can spark extremes of anger or extremes of love. Everything said between sisters carries meaning not only from what was just said but from all the conversations that came before - and before can span a lifetime. The layers of meaning combine profound connection with equally profound competition.