There cannot be greater rudeness,
than to interrupt another in the current of his discourse;
for if there be not impertinent folly in answering a man
before we can know what he will say,
yet it is a plain declaration,
that we are weary to hear him talk any longer;
and have a disesteem for what he says;
which we, judging not fit to entertain the company,
desire them to give audience to us,
who have something to produce worthy of their attention.
This shows a great disrespect, and cannot but be offensive;
and yet, this is what almost all interruption constantly carries with it.
To which, if there be added, as is usual,
a correcting of any mistake, or a contradiction of what has been said,
it is a mark of yet greater pride and self-conceitedness,
when we thus intrude ourselves for teachers,
and take upon us, either to set another right in his story,
or shew the mistakes of his judgement.
-John Locke
Interruption
