The Background for Good Conversation : Page 105

Current events are the preliminaries of most conversation. One must therefore keep abreast of them by reading a newspaper for local news, and a news magazine or the equivalent for national and international events. Through them and other general magazines one learns about prominent personalities, scientific progress, cultural activities — all valuable matter for conversation. Shakespeare said, "The man that hath not music in himself ... is fit for treasons, strategems, and spoils." One can as truly say that the man or woman that knows nothing about music, art, and literature, and about their creators is not prepared for refined conversation.