Sticks and stones….

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There’s an old children’s proverb, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me”.

I would hear or use this phrase when I was a kid.   It would come about when we were playing and someone would say thing to ridicule someone in the play group.

Of course, if someone hurled a stick or a stone as someone, it would certain inflict injury.   The person speaking this proverb is trying to say, “hey, I’m going to ignore your insult, you can’t bother me”.

Some  think that a put-down is clever.   Sometimes people belittle others to make themselves look good at the expense of someone else.

But words can be very damaging.   King Solomon said: A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. (回答柔和,使怒消退;言语暴戾,触动怒气 。)

I agree with Solomon and disagree with “sticks and stones.”.

What do you think about this proverb?  Do Chinese children have a similar adage? 请言!!

Tagged as: learn English, sticks and stones