Talking Folks Blind.
The late Sir John Blundell Maple, one of London's best business men, once told a very shrewd anecdote. A traveling salesman for a very promising novelty complained to him that he was not succeeding very well. "The machine," he said, "has wonderful points, but I cannot make people see them." Knowing the young man's weakness, Sir John replied, "How can you expect a customer to see your point, George, when you talk him blind?"
I have known more than one young man in business with everything else in his favor, but doomed to comparative failure because he never knew when to stop talking.
Some folks are slow-witted themselves, and think all others are equally slow in their mental processes. They need to go over a matter many times before it is clear to them, and they cannot understand how others can see a point at the first glance.
Some folks are in love with the sound of their own voices, admire their own readiness of speech, and go on talking for selfish joy in the performance, totally oblivious of the fact that the listener is terribly bored.
Say a thing and let it go—that is a good motto for all that seek to persuade others. If you see later that the first saying has not done its work, that it has not been understood or has been forgotten, then say it again in a different and perhaps a better way.
It is said that the most horrible torture ever invented is simply the constant falling of drops of water on a man's head. A torture quite analogous is the constant fall of monotonous words upon the ear, words to which you must listen, or pretend to listen, but words whose meaning you long ago comprehended fully.
We are not heard for our much speaking, on earth any more than in heaven.