“Whoever guards his mouth, and tongue, keeps his soul from troubles.”
— Proverbs 21:23
This bit of verse by an unknown writer says it well:
Wisdom About the Tongue Across Cultures
- • “The boneless tongue, so small and weak, can crush and kill,” declared the Greek.
- • The Persian proverb wisely saith, “A lengthy tongue, an early death.”
- • Sometimes it takes this form instead: “Don’t let your tongue cut off your head.”
- • While Arab sages this impart: “The tongue’s great storehouse is the heart.”
- • From Hebrew wit, the Maxim’s sprung: “Though feet should slip, don’t let the tongue.”
- • A verse from Scripture crowns the whole: “Who keeps the tongue doth keep his/her soul.”
Reflections on the wisdom of careful speech across cultures and traditions.
