How does the poet transform his banal thoughts (are not most thoughts banal?) into such stunning forms, into beauty? — Joyce Carol Oates. American author (born 1938)
If you explore beneath shyness or party chit-chat, you can sometimes turn a dull exchange into an intriguing one. I've found this to be particularly true in the case of professors or intellectuals, who are full of fascinating information, but need encouragement before they'll divulge it.