It is not so much what you say as the manner in which you say it;
It is not so much the language you use as the tone in which you convey it.

"Come here." I sharply said, and the child cowered and wept.
"Come here." I said--He looked and smiled and straight to my lap he crept.

Words may be mild and fair but the tone may pierce like a dart;
Words may be soft as the summer air but the tone may break my heart;

For works come from the mind, grow by study and art--
But tone leaps from the inner self, revealing the state of the heart.

Whether you know it or not, whether you mean it or care,
Gentleness, kindness, love and hate, envy, anger, are there.

Then, would you quarrels avoid and peace and love rejoice?
Keep anger not only out of your works--keep it out of your voice.

• Added: June 03, 2000

• StoryBin.com has 302 stories, poems, metaphors, lists, parables, writings.
• We have 39 Words To Live By entries in the database.
• Want to send us a correction notice on this page ?
• Are You The Author Requesting a StoryBin Web Page ?