Sticks and Stones

“Dogs bite sometimes, people bite at all times, with their hurtful words.” – Mehmet Murat İldan.

We have all heard the childhood rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” The intention of this rhyme is good, for it’s meant to help strengthen a child against the cruelty of others and to teach them to keep things in perspective. As adults, it seems like we need to be reminded of this. For example, Taylor Swift’s song “Shake It Up” is more than just a fun tune. Its lyrics present a similar message of ignoring the negative comments of others.

Admittedly, this Stoic message has great value. From a purely logical point of view, words don’t harm us as a physical assault.  

However, we are not, at our core, logical beings. Our earliest formative years were exclusively emotional. Reason and logic are learned behaviors, so childhood rhymes such as Sticks and Stones are necessary.

Because logic and reason are learned behaviors, our emotional side still exists. And this emotional side is very susceptible to words. In fact, words may do greater lasting damage than the proverbial ‘sticks and stones.’ 

 

This would be a good point to explain my views on reason or rational thought. I do not see reason as synonymous with logic. Reason incorporates logic yet includes so much more. It acknowledges the limitations of logic and that affairs of the heart, such as passion and pain, provide their own insight.

Therefore, reason accepts that the childhood rhyme is true because words do not cause physical harm. However, it also recognizes that we are emotional creatures, and words can sometimes cause harm that may last a lifetime.

Choose your words wisely.