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To curb the tongue and moderate the speech,
Is held to be the hardest of all tasks.

The words of him who talks too volubly

Have neither substance nor variety.*

"MAHABHARATA."

Every unbridled tongue in the end ishall find itself unfortunate.

-EURIPIDES.

A long tongue makes life short.

-ARABIC PROVERB.

The tongue talks at the head's cost.

He that strikes with his tongue, must ward with his head.

Let not the tongue utter what the head may have to

pay for.

-PORTUGUESE PROVERB.

The best quality of man is the restraining of his tongue.
-ARABIC PROVERB.

The Prophet (Muhammed) said, "Shall I not inform you of those things which are regulated and restrained by religion?" "Yes, O! Prophet of God," was the reply. Then the Prophet took hold of his tongue and said, "Restrain this."

-" MISHCAT-UL-MÂSABIH.”†

Who guards his tongue preserves himself from calamity. -ARABIC PROVERB.

* From Indian Wisdom by Monier Williams.
Translated from Arabic by Captain Matthews.

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth

his soul from troubles.

"BIBLE-PROVERBS."

There is many a man whose tongue might govern multitudes, if he could only govern his tongue.

eyes.

Give your tongue more holidays than your hand or

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. "BIBLE-PSALM 34."

He, that has no silver in his purse, should have silver on his tongue.

Be swift to hear, but cautious of your tongue, lest you betray your ignorance.

-WATTS.

O babbler, couldst thou but the cause divine,
Why one tongue only, but two ears are thine?

Two ears and but a single tongue
By nature's law to man belong!
The lesson she would teach is clear-
"Repeat but half of what you hear."

-TRENCH.

Two ears have been given thee and one tongue, that having heard twice, thou shouldst speak what is right. -M. C. MUNSOOKн.

* Translated by W. H. Hamilton.

Men are born with two eyes, but one tongue, in order that they should see twice as much as they say; but from their conduct, one would suppose that they were born with two tongues and one eye, for those talk the most, who have observed the least; and obtrude their remarks upon everything, who have seen into nothing.

-COLTON.

When we are alone, we have our thoughts to watch, in our families, our tempers, and in society, our tongues.

The language of the eyes frequently supplies the place of that of the tongue.

-CRABB.

What roof covers the most noisy tenant?
-The roof of the mouth.

An unrestrained volubility and wantonness of speech, is the occasion of numberless evils and vexations in life. It begets resentment in him who is the subject of it; sows the seed of strife and dissension amongst others; and inflames little disgusts, and offences which, if let alone, would wear away of themselves; it is often of as bad effect upon the good name of others, as deep envy or malice and to say the least of it in this respect, it destroys and perverts a certain equity, of the utmost importance to society to be observed; namely that praise and dispraise, a good or bad character, should always be bestowed according to desert. The tongue used in such a licentious manner is like a sword in the hand of a mad man; it is employed at random; it can scarce possibly do any good, and for the most part does a world

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of mischief; and implies not only great folly and a trifling spirit, but great viciousness of mind, great indifference to truth and falsity, and to the reputation, welfare, and good of others.

-BISHOP Butler.

SPEECH.

All things are governed by speech; speech is the root, from speech they originate; that man verily who is dishonest in speech, is dishonest in all.

-MANU.

Sweetness of speech never fails of purpose, while at the same time it never pains any heart. A person of good acts and good, agreeable and sweet speeches has no equal.

"MAHABHARATA."

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One mild word, says the proverb, will quench more heat than a bucket of water.

From David's Buddhism.

For pleasing words are like to magic art,
That doth the charmed snake in slumber lay.

Good words are a string of pearls.

-SPENSER.

-CHINESE PROVERB

Good words cost little and are worth much.

-HERBERT.

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If you can't give sugar, talk Sugar.

-HINDUSTANI PROVERB.

It is necessary to one's personal happiness to exercise control over one's words as well as acts; for there are words that strike even harder than blows; and men may "speak daggers" though they use none.

A word once uttered cannot be recalled.

-SMILES.

A word rashly spoken cannot be brought back by

a chariot and four horses.

-CHINESE PROVERB.

Of thy word unspoken thou art master; thy spoken word is master of thee.

-EASTERN PROVERB.

Sometimes words wound more than swords.

Deliberate much before doing or saying anything, for you have not the power of recalling what has been

said or done.

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