There can be little doubt that a huge number of the tragedies that have occurred in history, on both a personal and even national level, have been caused by words; either spoken or written.
In this age of email, text messaging, immediate contact with anyone, no matter where they are, it would be wise to remember this. It’s so easy for things to be taken out of context, or for a comment that’s typed with a chuckle and smile to be taken seriously, with very different consequences.
What we have said cannot be unsaid. Perhaps more importantly, what has been written (or typed, or tapped out on a cell phone) cannot be unwritten.
There is less emphasis on choosing the correct words nowadays than there ever was in the past. With so many forms of electronic messaging in daily use, it is difficult to convey emotions through cyberspace, and the danger of misunderstanding is compounded when the choice (or the understanding) of words is not carefully considered.
Quoting one of my favourite pieces of literature from the Persian poet Omar Khayyam (which admittedly, is in old English):
The Moving Finger writes; and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it
Listen to it here:
