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About this quote

What does it mean?
Critics ignore spoken words and rely on superstition or guesswork instead.
In plain terms
People listen more to signs and superstitions than to actual speech.
What can you take from it?
Words often matter less than perceived signs to opponents.

Where it applies

  • negotiations
  • public debates
  • media relations

Putting it to work

  • focus on actions over words
  • monitor symbolic gestures

Questions to consider

  • When do signs outweigh words?
  • How do we respond to superstition?

Another view

It overlooks that sometimes actions are just as misinterpreted as words.

More from Nikita Khrushchev

  1. We say the name of God, but that is only out of habit.

    Permalink to quote #20
  2. The more bombers, the less room for doves of peace.

    Permalink to quote #22
  3. I once said, 'We will bury you,' and I got into trouble with it. Of course we will not bury you with a shovel. Your own working class will bury you.

    Permalink to quote #19

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