The Do's and Don't's of Agreeable Conversation : Page 193
the leaders, the pitchers and the catchers, but the roles should change several times in an evening.
It is the essence of good conversation that all of those present be made to feel at home in it and a part of it. The good conversationalist somehow must feel at home himself, must manage to get some enjoyment out of it. At the same time he must make others feel an enjoyable part of it. As indicated before, a good conversationalist, once he is in a circle, makes up his mind to learn something from it and to contribute something to it. He listens constructively to what is being said, and if the theme is too uncongenial for him he will maneuver it to something which he and others can enjoy more.