Proverbs About the Tongue
- If you do not control your tongue, you will regret it.
- The essence of wisdom lies in the mind of the tongue.
- A trained tongue is a rare bird.
- God created one tongue for man and two ears to listen more than to speak.
- Within the tongue hides a dragon that does not shed blood, yet it kills nonetheless.
- The most afflicted individuals are those with an unrestrained tongue and a closed heart; they cannot remain silent, nor can they speak well.
- The tongue is a sharp sword whose edge is never guaranteed, and words are arrows that are difficult to retrieve.
- Give me one eloquent speaker, and I can forfeit a thousand warriors.
- The downfall of a person lies between their jaws.
- The safety of an individual is preserved by a guarded tongue.
- The tongue can lead to one’s ruin.
- Better are the bites of teeth than the bites of the tongue.
- No entity deserves a longer imprisonment than the tongue.
- Woe to the head that is plagued by the tongue.
- We often engage in malicious talks when we have nothing of value to say.
- Beware that your tongue does not outrun your thoughts.
- The most lethal poison is that of the tongue.
- A sword has two edges, while the tongue has a hundred.
- Nothing is sweeter than the tongue when it speaks kindly, nor more bitter when it acts maliciously.
Wisdom on Restraining the Tongue
- Time destroys everything built, and the tongue destroys all that could be built.
- A servant’s faith cannot be steadfast until their heart is sound, and their heart cannot be sound until their tongue is in check.
- Truth is when the tongue does not lie, and integrity is when the heart does not deceive.
- The heart of the fool is in his mouth, while the tongue of the wise resides in his heart.
- Beauty lies in the tongue, while perfection lies in the mind.
- Faith is knowledge of the heart, acknowledgment by the tongue, and actions of the limbs.
- My son, when others take pride in their eloquence, you should take pride in your ability to remain silent.
- Before speaking a word, contemplate it; you own it until it escapes your lips, but once spoken, it may own you.
- May God have mercy on a Muslim who restrains their tongue from lying, avoids gossip, and refrains from idle talk and sin.
- The tongue harbors more than ten ailments if left unchecked, including lying, gossip, slander, obscenity, cursing, vulgarity, falsehood, mockery, and more.
- It is the chatter that creates misunderstandings; it is the tongue that stirs conflict. If people could silence their tongues, there would be no disputes among them.
- With the tongue, people may still be quiet, but with silence, even stones can speak.
- Give me one eloquent speaker, and I can forfeit a thousand warriors.
- Your tongue is your horse: if you nurture it, it will protect you; if you betray it, it will harm you.
- Silence is a collection of many conversations that the tongue does not know how to articulate harmoniously.
Maxims on Tongue Discipline
- The truest form of piety is in the management of the tongue.
- A stone does not speak because it lacks human capabilities, but it possesses knowledge because it has witnessed everything and bears witness at the moment of departure.
- The well-being of a person is rooted in a sweet tongue; a young man’s tongue reflects his mind, and whenever one’s mind falters, their tongue slips.
- If the heart fails to contain the truth, the tongue falters in proclaiming it.
- Gratitude is not merely a word spoken by the tongue but is expressed through actions; the rich thank by giving to the needy, the strong by aiding the weak, and the healthy by helping the sick.
- The truth reveals itself through slips of the tongue.
- Should your eyes perceive faults, dismiss them and remind them that all humans have flaws; do not let your tongue speak of disgrace, for all have blemishes, and all are judged by their words.
- I admire those whose weapon is the mind, not the tongue, and whose decisive blow is silence, not verbosity.
- Physical comfort lies in moderation of food; emotional peace is found in fewer sins; heart’s tranquility comes with less worry; and the tongue thrives in minimal speech.
Proverbs on Preserving the Tongue
- A kind tongue is a powerful weapon.
- A foul tongue speaks all languages.
- We shall not depart; God knows what resides in hearts, and the heart dwells only in its body. I identify myself as Mariam, and this is my daughter Ruqayyah. Does it change much if the rulers claim my name is Maria and hers is Anna? I will not leave, for the tongue cannot deny its language, nor can the face hide its features.
- Dreams that we declare seldom come true; vocalizing them is akin to stifling them. It is wiser to let our aspirations thrive in the sanctuary of silence, nurtured by the warmth of the heart, rather than dragg them into the public realm, vulnerable to the transgressions of speech.
- If it is true that people speak of the joy of life, its goodness, and its happiness, my happiness lies in encountering a loyal friend on my journey through life—someone with whom I can share sincerity and devotion without ulterior motives—someone noble of spirit, who harbors no greed, ill will, secret resentment, or deceitful thoughts. This is the happiness I long for but seldom find.
- Gratitude is reflected in actions, not merely spoken to God by the tongue.
- A word that emanates from the heart resonates in the heart, while one that escapes the tongue barely reaches the ears.
- One can discern friends from foes by the slips of the tongue and the fleeting moments reflected in the eyes.
- There are words that once uttered by the tongue can lead to a person’s downfall.
- The tongue is the commander of the body; if it wrongs, the body suffers, and if it forgives, the body is freed.