"All speech, written or spoken, is a dead language, until it finds a willing and prepared hearer"

This quote by Robert Louis Stevenson speaks with the value of having an audience for communication. Without somebody to listen, the words spoken or written are useless. It is just when the words are heard by a ready and prepared hearer that they come to life. The hearer should be willing to listen and understand the message being conveyed. They need to also be prepared to receive the message, having the needed knowledge and context to translate it properly. Without a willing and ready hearer, the words remain dead and without purpose. This quote emphasizes the significance of having an audience for interaction, as without one, the words remain lifeless and without meaning.