The Art of Governing the Tongue

True silence is not simply the absence of words. If it were only that, there would be little difference between human beings and animals. What matters most is the ability to master the tongue within your mouth, to discern precisely when to restrain it and when to let it speak freely. The tongue is like fire: when used wisely it can be immensely useful, but when misused it can burn down a home and destroy a life. The tongue is also like a blade: in skillful hands it can create beauty, but in careless hands it can cause deep wounds. The first step in mastering the tongue is learning silence, for it is through the discipline of silence that the tongue becomes truly wise.