Most people have to talk so they won't hear.

Host: The room was quiet, save for the faint rustling of pages as Jack flipped through a book. The soft light of the evening filtered in through the window, casting long shadows on the floor. Jeeny, sitting across from him, watched him for a moment, sensing he was deep in thought.

Jeeny: (gently) “You’ve got that thoughtful look again. What’s on your mind?”

Jack: (looking up, a small smile forming) “I was just thinking about a quote from May Sarton. She said, ‘Most people have to talk so they won't hear.’ It really struck me, this idea that sometimes we talk not to connect or communicate, but to distract ourselves from what we might not want to face.”

Host: Jeeny’s expression softens as she processes the quote. She leans forward, clearly intrigued by the depth of the thought.

Jeeny: “It’s so true, isn’t it? We often talk to fill the silence, to avoid moments of stillness where we might actually have to listen to our own thoughts, feelings, or fears. It’s like we’re afraid of that silence because it forces us to confront what’s going on inside.”

Jack: (nodding) “Exactly. The noise — whether it’s our own words or the constant chatter around us — can be a defense mechanism. We’re so used to filling every moment with conversation, activity, or distraction that we forget how powerful silence can be. It’s when we finally quiet ourselves that we have to listen — to ourselves, to the world around us, to what we might be avoiding.”

Host: Jeeny takes a deep breath, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her cup, clearly reflecting on the deeper implications of the quote. The room feels quieter now, as if the words have opened a space for deeper reflection.

Jeeny: “It’s like we’re so scared of really listening, of understanding our own truths, that we create noise to hide from it. But maybe the real challenge is to embrace silence, to sit with our thoughts without needing to fill the space with words.”

Jack: (thoughtfully) “Yeah, and it’s not just about being quiet — it’s about being present with what’s coming up, without running from it. Silence isn’t just an absence of sound; it’s an opportunity to truly connect, with ourselves and with others. When we stop talking, we create room for deeper understanding.”

Host: Jeeny smiles softly, her eyes brightening with a quiet understanding. The conversation feels more intimate now, as if they’ve uncovered something together.

Jeeny: “Maybe that’s why it’s so hard to be still sometimes. We’re so used to distractions, to filling every moment with noise, that we forget what it means to just be. But in those quiet moments, when we finally listen, that’s when we connect with what’s real — both in ourselves and in the world around us.”

Jack: (nodding) “Exactly. It’s like we’ve forgotten that silence isn’t something to be feared. It’s in those moments of quiet that we can hear what we need to hear — the truths we’ve been avoiding, the insights waiting for us.”

Host: The room falls into a peaceful silence, both of them sitting in the quiet realization that sometimes, the most meaningful conversations happen not with words, but in the spaces between them. May Sarton’s words are a reminder that silence can be a space for clarity, for connection, and for understanding, if only we’re brave enough to embrace it.