Finally, the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told
his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one
nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that
all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him
to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes
in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in
anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man
and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the
wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one."
If you must speak ill of another, do not speak it...
write it in the sand near the water's edge.
-Napolean Hill-
A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
but a man of discretion is patient.
- Proverbs 14 -
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
- Proverbs 15 -