an excellent listener

[angliholic]

John is said to have been an excellent listener, yet he was hated by some of the people he wrote about.



First what does "an excellent listener" mean to you?
Second, I find the ideas between the above two clauses not very relavent, right?

[Anglika]

He was a person who paid close attention to anyone speaking.

There may be a link within the broader context of whatever passage this is taken from.

[angliholic]

Thanks, Anglika.