He whose will and desire in conversation is to establish his own opinion, even though what he says is true, should recognize that he is sick with the devil's disease. And if he behaves like this only in conversation with his equals, then perhaps the rebuke of his superiors may heal him. But if he acts in this way even with those who are greater and wiser than he, then his malady is humanly incurable. (John Climacus)

Conversation can have two very different purposes: either to convert or converse.

John critiques the willful desire to convert (from the Latin vertere to turn around) our listeners, "even though what he says is true."

Conversation should draw more on versare, the Latin for a line of poetry and from which we derive versatile.

To converse is to allow the discussions to take many turns, consider many sides, and to be open to - actively welcome - change.

A conversation with our neighbor or with God, is as much a matter of listening as pushing our own point of view.

The image is of Jesus in conversation with Simon the Pharisee by Peter Paul Rubens (see the Gospel of Luke)