So I wake up in the middle of the night to find my cat reclining on my chest with it's nose about two inches from my face (I'm getting tickled by wiskers at that distance).  Since it knows it has a captive audience (i.e. I can't change the channel), it begins to ponificate:

 

"Understanding people is an art that cannot truely come to fruition without enganging in conversation."

 

"I'd like to get back to sleep."

 

She continues, "The art within the art, is the ability to effectively listen.  This may seem easy, but it takes a lot  of energy.  I've seen you answer the phone & you don't stop to differeniate mindless babble from a friend with a genuine problem looking for advice.  You give them your full attention."

 

"Or I tell them I'll call them back in the morning.  I'm not a good 'phone talker'.  I do much better chatting over a cocktail where you can make eye-contact and carry on a meaningful rapport."

 

"But you listen nonetheless."

 

"Okay.  I want to go back to sleep.  What's your point?"

 

"My point is this:  if you don't understand a person (and I don't mean just linquistically), you are headed for trouble.  If you don't understand this, you will never make a good statesman or ambassador".

 

"Wonderful, it's past midnight and I will avoid professions such as abassador."

 

"Sleep on it."

 

I'm not sure why I keep this cat around.