We could all learn a lot if we spent more of our time listening to others. It can be surprising how much people will reveal to you when you spend just a little time keeping your mouth shut, and on top of that, it can make your own life more interesting. The greatest thing about opening your ears is that you don’t even have to be part of a conversation to pick up on some intriguing information. Everybody around us has their own story tell, and they will frequently tell you it without even realizing — if you pay enough attention. 

This has recently been highlighted by a thread in which Twitter users have described all the most memorable times that they have eavesdropped on the conversations of strangers, with some entertaining results. The whole thing is made all the more fascinating by the fact that we may never see them again. Context isn’t always everything.