Curses are like young chickens, they always come home to roost.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Southey warns that harmful words eventually return to harm the speaker.
- In plain terms
- Harmful words come back to harm you.
- What can you take from it?
- Avoid harmful speech.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Have words ever backfired?
- Is intent enough?
Another view
Sometimes words cause no immediate harm.
More from Robert Southey
'Great news! bloody news!' cried a newsman; The Devil said, 'Stop, let me see!' 'Great news? bloody news?' thought the Devil; 'The bloodier the better for me.'
Permalink to quote #29 They sin who tell us love can die; With life all other passions fly, All others are but vanity.
Permalink to quote #31 At this good news, so great The Devil's pleasure grew, That, with a joyful swish, he rent The hole where his tail came through.
Permalink to quote #28
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