--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People say sticks and stones may break…" description: "\"People say sticks and stones may break your bones, but names can never hurt you, but that's not true. Words can hurt. They hurt me. Things were said to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/demi-lovato-612_bones_people-say-sticks-and-stones-may-break-y_2683614.jpg" --- # People say sticks and stones may break your bones, but… ![“People say sticks and stones may break your bones, but names can never hurt you, but that's not true. Words can hurt. They hurt me. Things were said to me that I still haven't forgotten.” quote by Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/demi-lovato-612_bones_people-say-sticks-and-stones-may-break-y_2683614.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/demi-lovato-612_bones_people-say-sticks-and-stones-may-break-y_2683614.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/demi-lovato-612_bones_people-say-sticks-and-stones-may-break-y_2683614.jpg) > “People say sticks and stones may break your bones, but names can never hurt you, but that's not true. Words can hurt. They hurt me. Things were said to me that I still haven't forgotten.” [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words can cause deep, lasting pain, contrary to the old saying about sticks and stones. **In simple terms:** Verbal harm is real and lasting. Key Takeaway Choose words with care and compassion. Themes bullying trauma communication Mood emotional reflective Type psychological social When to use this quote - social media - school settings - family discussions Key Concepts psychological impact empathy healing Questions to Reflect On - How have words affected you? - What can you do to heal from hurtful speech? A Different Perspective People often underestimate verbal abuse. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bones/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Bully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bully/) [Forgotten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgotten/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Hate you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate-you/) [Havens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/havens/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Hurt me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-me/) [Hurt Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-things-1015170/) [Hurt True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-true-1962181/) [I hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-hate/) [I hate you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-hate-you/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Names](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names/) [Names Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/names-hurt-1496179/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Sticks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks/) [Sticks and stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks-and-stones/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [True words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-words/) [Words can hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-can-hurt/) [Words hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-hurt/) ## Related quotes > [My parents said sticks and stones will break your bones but names will never hurt you. But I always felt a sense of exhilaration…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-franti/my-parents-said-sticks-and-stones-will-break-your-bones-but-names/) [Michael Franti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-franti/) > [Well I was bullied at school, called all kinds of different names. But one day I turned to my bullies and said - 'Sticks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-hill/well-i-was-bullied-at-school-called-all-kinds-of-different-names-but/) [Harry Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-hill/) > [“Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me.” This is a lie. What we say matters. The unkind things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-versey/sticks-and-stones-will-break-my-bones-but-names-will-never-hurt-me/) [Jason Versey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-versey/) > [“I'd rather have names to hurt me, than my bones broken with sticks and stones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/i-d-rather-have-names-to-hurt-me-than-my-bones-broken-with-sticks-and/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“On the playground, children used to sing the chorus "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me." Few things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/on-the-playground-children-used-to-sing-the-chorus-sticks-and-stones/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [Stick and Stones may break your bones But words can Hurt like Hell..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/stick-and-stones-may-break-your-bones-but-words-can-hurt-like-hell/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can hurt like hell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/sticks-and-stones-may-break-your-bones-but-words-can-hurt-like-hell/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [Words can hurt us far more than sticks and stones. Bruises heal. Cruel words can make us cry for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/words-can-hurt-us-far-more-than-sticks-and-stones-bruises-heal-cruel/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can hurt you in a different way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sticks-and-stones-may-break-your-bones-but-words-can-hurt-you-in-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Stick and stones may break your bones but harsh words can hurt as much to anyone. What comes out of your tongue can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-samio/stick-and-stones-may-break-your-bones-but-harsh-words-can-hurt-as/) [Victoria Samio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-samio/) > [The only thing that someone could say about me that would hurt me would be something that's true that I don't want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/the-only-thing-that-someone-could-say-about-me-that-would-hurt-me/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [“God loves you, that He plans for your good, not your hurt. “It’s true that things happen in life that seem wrong and are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janette-oke/god-loves-you-that-he-plans-for-your-good-not-your-hurt-it-s-true/) [Janette Oke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janette-oke/) > [Sometimes its good to be fake rather getting hurt being a true person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan-sharma/sometimes-its-good-to-be-fake-rather-getting-hurt-being-a-true-person/) [Sushan Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan-sharma/) > [Another thing I think about names is that they DO hurt. They hurt because we believe them. We think they are telling us something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howe/another-thing-i-think-about-names-is-that-they-do-hurt-they-hurt/) [James Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howe/) > [The danger with mentioning names is that you hurt the feelings of people that you leave out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-danger-with-mentioning-names-is-that-you-hurt-the-feelings-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by Demi Lovato > [Having an eating disorder doesn't show ‘strength.’ Strength is when are able to overcome your demons after being sick and tired for so long.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/having-an-eating-disorder-doesn-t-show-strength-strength-is-when-are/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [We must believe there are so many angels among us :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/we-must-believe-there-are-so-many-angels-among-us/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Change your thoughts, change your life. —LAO TZU When I was fighting depression, I remember hearing this expression and not understanding it at first.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/change-your-thoughts-change-your-life-lao-tzu-when-i-was-fighting/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [You see, this heart, won't settle down; just like a child, running, scared, from a clown. Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-see-this-heart-won-t-settle-down-just-like-a-child-running-scared/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [My tattoos are reminders to hang in there when things get rough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/my-tattoos-are-reminders-to-hang-in-there-when-things-get-rough/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [You have the capability to change your life all with a simple shift in perspective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/you-have-the-capability-to-change-your-life-all-with-a-simple-shift/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Never be ashamed of what you feel. You have the right to feel any emotion that you want, and to do what makes you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/never-be-ashamed-of-what-you-feel-you-have-the-right-to-feel-any/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [The sky is the limit... for some people aim higher nothing is impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/the-sky-is-the-limit-for-some-people-aim-higher-nothing-is-impossible/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [ I hope to do a collaboration with Kelly Clarkson. \[She\] has been my idol growing. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-hope-to-do-a-collaboration-with-kelly-clarkson-she-has-been-my-idol/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [Never put my love out on the line, Never said yes to the right guy, Never had trouble getting what I want, But when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/never-put-my-love-out-on-the-line-never-said-yes-to-the-right-guy/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [I feel like I'm held more accountable to stay healthy now because now I'm a role model to young girls to not have eating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/i-feel-like-i-m-held-more-accountable-to-stay-healthy-now-because-now/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [“If your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme. —PINOCCHIO”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/if-your-heart-is-in-your-dream-no-request-is-too-extreme-pinocchio/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [But somewhere we went wrong, we were once so strong..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/but-somewhere-we-went-wrong-we-were-once-so-strong/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [“Remember it’s always darkest before the dawn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/remember-it-s-always-darkest-before-the-dawn/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) > [“Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun, like struggle. To love someone is to strive to accept that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demi-lovato/love-isn-t-a-state-of-perfect-caring-it-is-an-active-noun-like/) [Demi Lovato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) [Explore all 445 Demi Lovato quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demi-lovato/) ## More Bones quotes > [One of the best moments of any Liars show is hearing the crowd squawk 'We're doomed! We're doomed!' on cue during 'We Fenced Other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-sheffield/one-of-the-best-moments-of-any-liars-show-is-hearing-the-crowd-squawk/) [Rob Sheffield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-sheffield/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [Surely, God could have caused birds to fly with their bones made of solid gold, with their veins full of quicksilver, with their flesh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galileo-galilei/surely-god-could-have-caused-birds-to-fly-with-their-bones-made-of/) [Galileo Galilei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galileo-galilei/) > [“We are preaching hope, standing on the bones of the past.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rucyahana/we-are-preaching-hope-standing-on-the-bones-of-the-past/) [John Rucyahana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rucyahana/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [Flesh forgets. Bone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-bass/flesh-forgets-bone-remembers/) [Jefferson Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-bass/) > [One of my favorite poets, Neruda, writes close to the bone. Though I know only a little Spanish, I like to compare the Spanish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-diament/one-of-my-favorite-poets-neruda-writes-close-to-the-bone-though-i/) [Anita Diament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-diament/) > [Death and burial were a public spectacle. 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To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [“All right, you deadly little ghostlings,” I muttered. “Mama says go back to bed! - Cat”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/all-right-you-deadly-little-ghostlings-i-muttered-mama-says-go-back/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [“In December of 2007 human bones including skulls, which have been radiocarbon dated back to between 1304 and 1424, were found in a museum…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/in-december-of-2007-human-bones-including-skulls-which-have-been/) [Captain Hank Bracker, "Seawater One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/captain-hank-bracker-seawater-one/) > [When I look at the human brain I'm still in awe of it. 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