"Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill"
About this Quote
A reprimand disguised as serenity, this line treats speech not as self-expression but as a moral lever with real-world consequences. Attributed to the Buddha, it carries the weight of a leader who built a whole practice around cause and effect: intention shapes action, action shapes suffering, and language is one of the most efficient delivery systems for both harm and relief.
The intent is practical discipline. “Whatever words we utter” widens the net: not just formal teachings or public pronouncements, but offhand jokes, gossip, irritation, reassurance. “Chosen with care” isn’t etiquette; it’s training. In a tradition that prizes mindfulness, care is the point where impulse gets intercepted and examined. The phrase “for good or ill” refuses the comforting fantasy that words are harmless when they’re “just words.” Speech is framed as karma in miniature: an input into someone else’s mind, with downstream effects you don’t fully control.
The subtext is a quiet indictment of carelessness. If your words land badly, the problem isn’t merely that others are too sensitive; it’s that you failed your responsibility as a speaker. That’s why “people will hear them” matters: communication is not private. Once released, language becomes social property, capable of shaping moods, reputations, group norms, even conflicts.
Contextually, this sits neatly beside Buddhist teachings on Right Speech: avoid lying, divisive talk, harshness, and idle chatter. It’s leadership as restraint, not volume - power measured by the harm you decline to cause.
The intent is practical discipline. “Whatever words we utter” widens the net: not just formal teachings or public pronouncements, but offhand jokes, gossip, irritation, reassurance. “Chosen with care” isn’t etiquette; it’s training. In a tradition that prizes mindfulness, care is the point where impulse gets intercepted and examined. The phrase “for good or ill” refuses the comforting fantasy that words are harmless when they’re “just words.” Speech is framed as karma in miniature: an input into someone else’s mind, with downstream effects you don’t fully control.
The subtext is a quiet indictment of carelessness. If your words land badly, the problem isn’t merely that others are too sensitive; it’s that you failed your responsibility as a speaker. That’s why “people will hear them” matters: communication is not private. Once released, language becomes social property, capable of shaping moods, reputations, group norms, even conflicts.
Contextually, this sits neatly beside Buddhist teachings on Right Speech: avoid lying, divisive talk, harshness, and idle chatter. It’s leadership as restraint, not volume - power measured by the harm you decline to cause.
Quote Details
| Topic | Wisdom |
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