To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that other persons will enjoy answering. Encourage them to talk about themselves and their accomplish… - Dale Carnegie

As Lord Chesterfield said to his son: Be wiser than other people if you can; but do not tell them so.

"I asked Mr. Thurston to tell me the secret of his success... Thurston had a genuine interest in people. He told me that many magicians would look at the audience and say to themselves, "Well, there is a bunch of suckers out there, a bunch of hicks; I'll fool them alright." But Thurston's method was totally different. He told me that every time he went on stage he said to himself: "I am grateful because these people come to see me. They make it possible for me to make my living in a very agreeable way. I'm going to give them the very best I possibly can." p58"

In time, we lose our freshness and spontaneity of true conversation. These are areas in which everyone interested in self-improvement will seek to improve.