Conversation was never begun at once, nor in a hurried manner.
No one was quick with a question, no matter how important,
and no one was pressed for an answer. A pause giving time
for... thought was the truly courteous way of beginning and
conducting a conversation. Silence was meaningful with the
Lakota, and his granting a space of silence to the speech-maker
and his own moment of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regard for the rule that
No one was quick with a question, no matter how important,
and no one was pressed for an answer. A pause giving time
for... thought was the truly courteous way of beginning and
conducting a conversation. Silence was meaningful with the
Lakota, and his granting a space of silence to the speech-maker
and his own moment of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regard for the rule that
"thought comes before speech."
- LUTHER STANDING BEAR
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