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even harder than blows； and men may 〃speak daggers；〃 though they
use none。 〃UN COUP DE LANGUE；〃 says the French proverb； 〃EST PIRE
QU'UN COUP DE LANCE。〃 The stinging repartee that rises to the
lips； and which； if uttered； might cover an adversary with
confusion； how difficult it sometimes is to resist saying it！
〃Heaven keep us；〃 says Miss Bremer in her 'Home；' 〃from the
destroying power of words！ There are words which sever hearts
more than sharp swords do； there are words the point of which
sting the heart through the course of a whole life。〃
Thus character exhibits itself in self…control of speech as much
as in anything else。 The wise and forbearant man will restrain
his desire to say a smart or severe thing at the expense of
another's feelings； while the fool blurts out what he thinks； and
will sacrifice his friend rather than his joke。 〃The mouth of a
wise man；〃 said Solomon； 〃is in his heart； the heart of a fool is
in his mouth。〃
There are； however； men who are no fools； that are headlong in
their language as in their acts； because of their want of
forbearance and self…restraining patience。 The impulsive genius；
gifted with quick thought and incisive speechperhaps carried
away by the cheers of the momentlets fly a sarcastic sentence
which may return upon him to his own infinite damage。 Even
statesmen might be named； who have failed through their inability
to resist the temptation of saying clever and spiteful things at
their adversary's expense。 〃The turn of a sentence；〃 says
Bentham； 〃has decided the fate of many a friendship； and； for
aught that we know； the fate of many a kingdom。〃 So； when one is
tempted to write a clever but harsh thing； though it may be
difficult to restrain it； it is always better to leave it in the
inkstand。 〃A goose's quill；〃 says the Spanish proverb； 〃often
hurts more than a lion's claw。〃
Carlyle says； when speaking of Oliver Cromwell； 〃He that cannot
withal keep his mind to himself； cannot practise any considerable
thing whatsoever。〃 It was said of William the Silent； by one of
his greatest enemies； that an arrogant or indiscreet word was
never known to fall from his lips。 Like him； Washington was
discretion itself in the use of speech； never taking advantage of
an opponent； or seeking a shortlived triumph in a debate。 And it
is said that in the long run； the world comes round to and
supports the wise man who knows when and how to be silent。
We have heard men of great experience say that they have often
regretted having spoken； but never once regretted holding their
tongue。 〃Be silent；〃 says Pythagoras； 〃or say something better
than silence。〃 〃Speak fitly；〃 says George Herbert； 〃or be silent
wisely。〃 St。 Francis de Sales； whom Leigh Hunt styled 〃the
Gentleman Saint；〃 has said： 〃It is better to remain silent than to
speak the truth ill…humouredly； and so spoil an excellent dish by
covering it with bad sauce。〃 Another Frenchman； Lacordaire；
characteristically puts speech first； and silence next。 〃After
speech；〃 he says； 〃silence is the greatest power in the world。〃
Yet a word spoken in season； how powerful it may be！ As the
old Welsh proverb has it； 〃A golden tongue is in the mouth
of the blessed。〃
It is related； as a remarkable instance of self…control on the
part of De Leon； a distinguished Spanish poet of the sixteenth
century； who lay for years in the dungeons of the Inquisition
without light or society； because of his having translated a part
of the Scriptures into his native tongue； that on being liberated
and restored to his professorship； an immense crowd attended his
first lecture； expecting some account of his long imprisonment；
but Do Leon was too wise and too gentle to indulge in
recrimination。 He merely resumed the lecture which； five years
before； had been so sadly interrupted； with the accustomed formula
〃HERI DICEBAMUS；〃 and went directly into his subject。
There are； of course； times and occasions when the expression of
indignation is not only justifiable but necessary。 We are bound
to be indignant at falsehood； selfishness； and cruelty。 A man of
true feeling fires up naturally at baseness or meanness of any
sort； even in cases where he may be under no obligation to speak
out。 〃I would have nothing to do；〃 said Perthes； 〃with the man
who cannot be moved to indignation。 There are more good people
than bad in the world； and the bad get the upper hand merely
because they are bolder。 We cannot help being pleased with a man
who uses his powers with decision； and we often take his side for
no other reason than because he does so use them。 No doubt； I
have often repented speaking； but not less often have I repented
keeping silence。〃 （8）
One who loves right cannot be indifferent to wrong； or wrongdoing。
If he feels warmly； he will speak warmly； out of the fulness of
his heart。 As a noble lady （9） has written：
〃A noble heart doth teach a virtuous scorn
To scorn to owe a duty overlong；
To scorn to be for benefits forborne；
To scorn to lie； to scorn to do a wrong；
To scorn to bear an injury in mind；
To scorn a freeborn heart slave…like to bind。〃
We have； however； to be on our guard against impatient scorn。 The
best people are apt to have their impatient side； and often； the
very temper which makes men earnest； makes them also intolerant。
（10） 〃Of all mental gifts；〃 says Miss Julia Wedgwood； 〃the rarest
is intellectual patience； and the last lesson of culture is to
believe in difficulties which are invisible to ourselves。〃
The best corrective of intolerance in disposition； is increase of
wisdom and enlarged experience of life。 Cultivated good sense
will usually save men from the entanglements in which moral
impatience is apt to involve them； good sense consisting chiefly
in that temper of mind which enables its possessor to deal with
the practical affairs of life with justice； judgment； discretion；
and charity。 Hence men of culture and experience are invariably；
found the most forbearant and tolerant； as ignorant and
narrowminded persons are found the most unforgiving and
intolerant。 Men of large and generous natures； in proportion to
their practical wisdom； are disposed to make allowance for the
defects and disadvantages of othersallowance for the
controlling power of circumstances in the formation of character；
and the limited power of resistance of weak and fallible natures
to temptation and error。 〃I see no fault committed；〃 said Goethe；
〃which I also might not have committed。〃 So a wise and good man
exclaimed； when he saw a criminal drawn on his hurdle to Tyburn：
〃There goes Jonathan Bradfordbut for the grace of God！〃
Life will always be； to a great extent； what we ourselves make it。
The cheerful man makes a cheerful world； the gloomy man a gloomy
one。 We usually find but our own temperament reflected in the
dispositions of those about us。 If