--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The tongue must be heavy indeed, because…" description: "\"The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it\" — Confucius" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/confucius-164_heavy_the-tongue-must-be-heavy-indeed-because_2472426.jpg" --- # The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can… ![“The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it” quote by Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/confucius-164_heavy_the-tongue-must-be-heavy-indeed-because_2472426.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/confucius-164_heavy_the-tongue-must-be-heavy-indeed-because_2472426.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/confucius-164_heavy_the-tongue-must-be-heavy-indeed-because_2472426.jpg) > “The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it” [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speaking truthfully is difficult because few people can control their words. **In simple terms:** Truthful speech is hard; people often speak carelessly. Key Takeaway Practice mindful speech. Themes ethics communication self‑control Mood reflective didactic Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - public speaking - personal relationships - conflict resolution Key Concepts philosophy moral discipline Questions to Reflect On - What prevents honest speech? - How can we balance truth and tact? A Different Perspective Self‑censorship can suppress necessary honesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [I'm not the sexiest thing in the world, I feel actors who have to 'play' sexy lose all their sex appeal. When they start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-zimbalist/i-m-not-the-sexiest-thing-in-the-world-i-feel-actors-who-have-to-play/) [Stephanie Zimbalist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-zimbalist/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I was this role model for heavy people. But the thing is, I never set out to be a role model at all, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricki-lake/i-was-this-role-model-for-heavy-people-but-the-thing-is-i-never-set/) [Ricki Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricki-lake/) > [I was going to McDonald's and Taco Bell every day. The kids behind the counter knew me - it wouldn't even faze them. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eminem/i-was-going-to-mcdonald-s-and-taco-bell-every-day-the-kids-behind-the/) [Eminem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eminem/) > [The tongue weighs practically nothing...but few people can hold it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-tongue-weighs-practically-nothing-but-few-people-can-hold-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Filmmaking is so heavy: there are so many people and trucks and teamsters and costume people and hair people and makeup people. I try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-marc-vallee/filmmaking-is-so-heavy-there-are-so-many-people-and-trucks-and/) [Jean-Marc Vallee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-marc-vallee/) > [I'm not in a position to tell heavy people anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-m-not-in-a-position-to-tell-heavy-people-anything/) [Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/) > [When I was heavy, people would say to me - and it was such a backhanded compliment - they would say, 'You've got such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/when-i-was-heavy-people-would-say-to-me-and-it-was-such-a-backhanded/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [Anything that's of any use, famous people get hold of it and take it for themselves and it gets a bad rap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-gallagher/anything-that-s-of-any-use-famous-people-get-hold-of-it-and-take-it/) [Noel Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-gallagher/) > [Most people hold onto the past because they're looking for answers to questions that they'll never get the answers to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/most-people-hold-onto-the-past-because-they-re-looking-for-answers-to/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [If two people must be together, they must hold their hands and overcome these obstacles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fated-to-love/if-two-people-must-be-together-they-must-hold-their-hands-and/) Fated To Love > [People hold onto the wrong person because they THINK they can CHANGE them into the right person for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/people-hold-onto-the-wrong-person-because-they-think-they-can-change/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [“she was clinging ivy, she needed people to hold her up.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-lamb/she-was-clinging-ivy-she-needed-people-to-hold-her-up/) [Charlotte Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-lamb/) > [Some people are backwards. They cut off people that they should hold on to and they hold on to people that they should cut…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/some-people-are-backwards-they-cut-off-people-that-they-should-hold/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [People will hold you down, they will make you inferior, they will make you think that your dreams will never come true, they think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia/people-will-hold-you-down-they-will-make-you-inferior-they-will-make/) [Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia/) ## More by Confucius > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The superior man is distressed by his want (lack) of ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-superior-man-is-distressed-by-his-want-lack-of-ability/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [In ancient times, those who wished to illuminate the world with virtue first brought order to their nations. Wishing to order well their nations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/in-ancient-times-those-who-wished-to-illuminate-the-world-with-virtue/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Better than the one who knows what is right is the one who loves what is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/better-than-the-one-who-knows-what-is-right-is-the-one-who-loves-what/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Knowledge is merely brilliance in organization of ideas and not wisdom. The truly wise person goes beyond knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/knowledge-is-merely-brilliance-in-organization-of-ideas-and-not/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [I live in a very small house, but my windows look out on a very large world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/i-live-in-a-very-small-house-but-my-windows-look-out-on-a-very-large/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-rule-a-country-of-a-thousand-chariots-there-must-be-reverent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [The real fault is to have faults and not amend them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-real-fault-is-to-have-faults-and-not-amend-them/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To know what you know and what you do not know, that is true knowledge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-know-what-you-know-and-what-you-do-not-know-that-is-true-knowledge/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [A picture is poem without words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/a-picture-is-poem-without-words/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Heaven means to be one with God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/heaven-means-to-be-one-with-god/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Does Heaven ever speak? The four seasons come and go, and all creatures thrive and grow. Does Heaven ever speak!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/does-heaven-ever-speak-the-four-seasons-come-and-go-and-all-creatures/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [To study and at times practice what one has learned, is this not a pleasure?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/to-study-and-at-times-practice-what-one-has-learned-is-this-not-a/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/recompense-injury-with-justice-and-recompense-kindness-with-kindness/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [There is only one thing in life which never changes, and it is change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/there-is-only-one-thing-in-life-which-never-changes-and-it-is-change/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) [Explore all 1,019 Confucius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) ## More Heavy quotes > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [Only two to three per cent of an audience is interested in words and pays attention to lyrics; most of the rest of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-stewart/only-two-to-three-per-cent-of-an-audience-is-interested-in-words-and/) [Al Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-stewart/) > [Some things in this world just ain't meant to be, not in the times we want 'em to, and the heart has to hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcbride/some-things-in-this-world-just-ain-t-meant-to-be-not-in-the-times-we/) [James McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcbride/) > [Since a camera is something too heavy for women and initially made for men, you need a good cameraman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitra-farahani/since-a-camera-is-something-too-heavy-for-women-and-initially-made/) Mitra Farahani > [He really is terribly heavy going. 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Roman Catholicism, which claims to be His church, is the richest of the rich, the wealthiest institution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avro-manhattan/jesus-was-the-poorest-of-the-poor-roman-catholicism-which-claims-to/) [Avro Manhattan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avro-manhattan/) > [I played Iris Murdoch, who had not long died, and I felt the responsibility very heavy on my shoulders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judi-dench/i-played-iris-murdoch-who-had-not-long-died-and-i-felt-the/) [Judi Dench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judi-dench/) > [Fame is very heavy. When there are large crowds, I'm unable to handle it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhold-messner/fame-is-very-heavy-when-there-are-large-crowds-i-m-unable-to-handle-it/) [Reinhold Messner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhold-messner/) > [It's like when we get the transformer movies. It was all a bunch of smaller robot pieces and then you're on set, and you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-nicotero/it-s-like-when-we-get-the-transformer-movies-it-was-all-a-bunch-of/) [Gregory Nicotero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-nicotero/) Browse all 2,502 Heavy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Confucius" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-tongue-must-be-heavy-indeed-because-so-few-people-can-hold-it/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Heavy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-tongue-must-be-heavy-indeed-because-so-few-people-can-hold-it/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/confucius-164_heavy_the-tongue-must-be-heavy-indeed-because_2472426.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/confucius-164_heavy_the-tongue-must-be-heavy-indeed-because_2472426.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b4/confucius-164_heavy_the-tongue-must-be-heavy-indeed-because_2472426.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The tongue must be heavy indeed, because so few people can hold it” — Confucius", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Confucius", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The tongue must be heavy indeed,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-tongue-must-be-heavy-indeed-because-so-few-people-can-hold-it/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/the-tongue-must-be-heavy-indeed-because-so-few-people-can-hold-it/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```