WIST Quotations

Bible, Vol. 1. Old Testament -- Book 22b. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 28:11ff (Sir 28:11–12) [tr. CEB (2011)]

Dave — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 16:24:08 +0000

A hasty quarrel sparks a fire,
and hasty conflict sheds blood.
If you blow on a spark, it will flame up,
and if you spit on it, it will go out;
nonetheless, both come out
of your mouth.

[ἔρις κατασπευδομένη ἐκκαίει πῦρ,
καὶ μάχη κατασπεύδουσα ἐκχέει αἷμα.
ἐὰν φυσήσῃς εἰς σπινθῆρα, ἐκκαήσεται,
καὶ ἐὰν πτύσῃς ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν, σβεσθήσεται·
καὶ ἀμφότερα ἐκ τοῦ στόματός σου ἐκπορεύεται.]

The Bible (The Old Testament) (14th - 2nd C BC) Judeo-Christian sacred scripture [Tanakh, Hebrew Bible], incl. the Apocrypha (Deuterocanonicals)
Book 22b. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 28:11ff (Sir 28:11–12) [tr. CEB (2011)]

More on the history and acceptance of this Apocryphal book here and here.

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

An hasty contention kindleth a fire: and an hasty fighting sheddeth blood.
If thou blow the spark, it shall burn: if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: and both these come out of thy mouth.
[tr. KJV (1611)]

A hasty contention kindleth a fire: and a hasty quarrel sheddeth blood: and a tongue that beareth witness bringeth death.
If thou blow the spark, it shall burn as a fire: and if thou spit upon it, it shall be quenched: both come out of the mouth.
[tr. DRA (1899), 28:13–14]

A sudden quarrel kindles fire,
a hasty dispute leads to bloodshed.
Blow on a spark and up it flares,
spit on it and out it goes;
both are the effects of your mouth.
[tr. JB (1966); NJB (1985)]

An argument that blazes out suddenly can lead to violence. You can blow on a spark to make it glow, or you can spit on it to put it out. Either way, you do it with your mouth.
[tr. GNT (1992 ed.)]

A hasty quarrel kindles a fire,
and a hasty dispute sheds blood.
If you blow on a spark, it will glow;
if you spit on it, it will be put out,
yet both come out of your mouth.
[tr. NRSV (2021 ed.)]

Howell, James -- Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

Dave — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:20:34 +0000

Words cutt more than swords.

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “English Proverbs” (1659) [compiler]

A common proverbial concept before and after. See also the Bible, Shakespeare (1590), Shakespeare (1598), Herbert (1640), Franklin (1744), Irving (1820), Lowell (1914), Sarton (1973), Fry (1997), Ginott (2003).

Thurber, James -- Interview (1959-03-24) by Edward R. Murrow, Small World, CBS-TV

Dave — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 15:43:12 +0000

By definition, humor is gentle. The savage, the cruel, the harsh would fall under the heading of wit and/or satire, as the lawyers say. Now, my definitions are these: The wit makes fun of other persons; the satirist makes fun of the world; the humorist makes fun of himself, but in so doing, he identifies himself with people — that is, people everywhere, not for the purpose of taking them apart, but simply revealing their true nature.

James Thurber (1894–1961) American humorist, cartoonist, writer
Interview (1959-03-24) by Edward R. Murrow, Small World, CBS-TV

When Siobhan McKenna, one of the other guests, made a comment about "cruel humor."

The transcript was printed as "That Girl in Galway" in the next (?) day's New York Post.

Lewis, C.S. -- The Screwtape Letters, Letter 3 (1942)

Dave — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 17:48:48 +0000

In civilised life domestic hatred usually expresses itself by saying things which would appear quite harmless on paper (the words are not offensive) but in such a voice, or at such a moment, that they are not far short of a blow in the face.

C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) English writer, literary scholar, lay theologian [Clive Staples Lewis]
The Screwtape Letters, Letter 3 (1942)

Ginott, Haim -- Between Parent and Child, Introduction (2003 ed.) [with A. Ginott and H. W. Goddard]

Dave — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 20:22:53 +0000

Like a trained surgeon who is careful where he cuts, parents, too, need to become skilled in the use of words. Because words are like knives. They can inflict, if not physical, many painful emotional wounds.

Haim Ginott (1922–1973) Israeli-American school teacher, child psychologist, psychotherapist [b. Haim Ginzburg]
Between Parent and Child, Introduction (2003 ed.) [with A. Ginott and H. W. Goddard]

See Howell (1659).

Shakespeare, William -- Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2, sc. 1, l. 244 (2.1.244) (1598)

Dave — Thu, 20 Jul 2017 19:52:00 +0000

BENEDICK: She speaks poniards and every word stabs.

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) English dramatist and poet
Much Ado About Nothing, Act 2, sc. 1, l. 244 (2.1.244) (1598)

See Howell (1659).

Irving, Washington -- “Rip Van Winkle,” The Sketch Book (1820)

Dave — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 00:28:59 +0000

A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use.

Washington Irving (1783–1859) American author [pseud. for Geoffrey Crayon]
“Rip Van Winkle,” The Sketch Book (1820)

See Howell (1659).

Franklin, Benjamin -- Poor Richard (1744 ed.)

Dave — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 21:13:39 +0000

A soft Tongue may strike hard.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) American statesman, scientist, philosopher, aphorist
Poor Richard (1744 ed.)

See Howell (1659).

Bible, Vol. 1. Old Testament -- Book 22b. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 28:17ff (Sir 28:17-18) [KJV (1611)]

Dave — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:12:28 +0000

The stroke of the whip maketh marks in the flesh: but the stroke of the tongue breaketh the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword: but not so many as have fallen by the tongue.

[πληγὴ μάστιγος ποιεῖ μώλωπα, πληγὴ δὲ γλώσσης συγκλάσει ὀστᾶ. πολλοὶ ἔπεσαν ἐν στόματι μαχαίρας, καὶ οὐχ ὡς οἱ πεπτωκότες διὰ γλῶσσαν.]

The Bible (The Old Testament) (14th - 2nd C BC) Judeo-Christian sacred scripture [Tanakh, Hebrew Bible], incl. the Apocrypha (Deuterocanonicals)
Book 22b. Sirach (Ecclesiasticus) 28:17ff (Sir 28:17-18) [KJV (1611)]

See Howell (1659).

(Source (Greek)). Other translations:

The stroke of a whip maketh a blue mark: but the stroke of the tongue will break the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as have perished by their own tongue.
[DRA (1899); 28:21-22]

A stroke of the whip raises a weal, but a stroke of the tongue breaks bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but many more have fallen by the tongue.
[JB (1966)]

A whip can raise a welt, but a vicious tongue can break bones. More people have died as a result of loose talk than were ever killed by swords.
[GNT (1976)]

The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.
[NRSV (1989 ed.)]