--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As words have an effective power of their…" description: "\"As words have an effective power of their own, curses reported against someone might turn against the speaker.\" — Gustave Flaubert" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/gustave-flaubert-354_curse_as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-thei_2153899.jpg" --- # As words have an effective power of their own, curses… ![“As words have an effective power of their own, curses reported against someone might turn against the speaker.” quote by Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/gustave-flaubert-354_curse_as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-thei_2153899.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/gustave-flaubert-354_curse_as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-thei_2153899.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/gustave-flaubert-354_curse_as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-thei_2153899.jpg) > “As words have an effective power of their own, curses reported against someone might turn against the speaker.” [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words carry their own force; a spoken curse can rebound onto the speaker. **In simple terms:** Spoken curses can backfire. Key Takeaway Think before uttering harmful words. Themes language karma consequence Mood cautionary reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - interpersonal conflict - rituals - public speaking - personal relationships Key Concepts speech act theory psychology folk belief Questions to Reflect On - What are the risks of negative speech? - Can intent change outcome? A Different Perspective Not all curses have literal power; effect is metaphorical. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse/) [Curses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curses/) [Curses Reported](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curses-reported-4541007/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Power Curses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-curses-4541008/) [Speakers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speakers/) [Turns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turns/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) [Words Effective](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-effective-4541009/) ## Related quotes > [We have a priori reasons for believing that in every sentence there is some one order of words more effective than any other; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/we-have-a-priori-reasons-for-believing-that-in-every-sentence-there/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Ironically, making a statement with words is the least effective method.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grey-livingston/ironically-making-a-statement-with-words-is-the-least-effective-method/) [Grey Livingston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grey-livingston/) > [Curses are exacting, legal arrangements of the spiritual world. Just like human contracts contain fine print and legally crafted language, satanic curses are filled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-larson/curses-are-exacting-legal-arrangements-of-the-spiritual-world-just/) [Bob Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-larson/) > [“Careful what you say. God curses those who curse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-p-tzsch/careful-what-you-say-god-curses-those-who-curse/) [Oliver Pötzsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-p-tzsch/) > [Sophisticated ignorance, write my curses in cursive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/sophisticated-ignorance-write-my-curses-in-cursive/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [I'm not a guy who curses very much in my personal life. When I curse it sounds like a kid trying to be cool.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/i-m-not-a-guy-who-curses-very-much-in-my-personal-life-when-i-curse/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [I married a saint - well, a saint who curses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/i-married-a-saint-well-a-saint-who-curses/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) > [Curses of vanished elders echoed down on me; too pretty, too soft, too pale, eyes far too full of the Devil, ah, that devilish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-rice/curses-of-vanished-elders-echoed-down-on-me-too-pretty-too-soft-too/) [Anne Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-rice/) > [... Corellian curses being a synergistic blend of vulgarity, obscenity, and outright blasphemy that were the only things really worth saying when one was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/corellian-curses-being-a-synergistic-blend-of-vulgarity-obscenity-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The phrase "may you live in interesting times" is the lowest in a trilogy of Chinese curses that continue "may you come to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-phrase-may-you-live-in-interesting-times-is-the-lowest-in-a/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“GOD can turn every curse into a blessings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/god-can-turn-every-curse-into-a-blessings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Respect your curses, for they are the instruments of your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/respect-your-curses-for-they-are-the-instruments-of-your-destiny/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [There are no such things as curses; only people and their decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-wood/there-are-no-such-things-as-curses-only-people-and-their-decisions/) [Yvonne Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-wood/) > [Great wealth often curses all who touch it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-darrow/great-wealth-often-curses-all-who-touch-it/) [Clarence Darrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-darrow/) > [“Juju is not enough to protect you. Everything you have I will turn against you. I'll turn sugar bitter for you. I'll take your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-oyeyemi/juju-is-not-enough-to-protect-you-everything-you-have-i-will-turn/) [Helen Oyeyemi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-oyeyemi/) ## More by Gustave Flaubert > [As for the piano, the faster her fingers flew over it, the more he marveled. She struck the keys with aplomb and ran from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/as-for-the-piano-the-faster-her-fingers-flew-over-it-the-more-he/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Caught up in life, you see it badly. You suffer from it or enjoy it too much. The artist, in my opinion, is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/caught-up-in-life-you-see-it-badly-you-suffer-from-it-or-enjoy-it-too/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“When one does something, one must do it wholly and well. Those bastard existences where you sell suet all day and write poetry at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/when-one-does-something-one-must-do-it-wholly-and-well-those-bastard/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Isn’t ‘not to be bored’ one of the principal goals of life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/isn-t-not-to-be-bored-one-of-the-principal-goals-of-life/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Love is a springtime plant that perfumes everything with its hope, even the ruins to which it clings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/love-is-a-springtime-plant-that-perfumes-everything-with-its-hope/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“But her life was as cold as an attic facing north; and boredom, like a silent spider, was weaving its web in the shadows,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/but-her-life-was-as-cold-as-an-attic-facing-north-and-boredom-like-a/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [When you reduce a woman to writing, she makes you think of a thousand other women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/when-you-reduce-a-woman-to-writing-she-makes-you-think-of-a-thousand/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/travel-makes-one-modest-you-see-what-a-tiny-place-you-occupy-in-the/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [“We must not touch our idols; the gilt sticks to our fingers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/we-must-not-touch-our-idols-the-gilt-sticks-to-our-fingers/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [A superhuman will is needed in order to write, and I am only a man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/a-superhuman-will-is-needed-in-order-to-write-and-i-am-only-a-man/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [The writer must wade into life as into the sea, but only up to the navel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/the-writer-must-wade-into-life-as-into-the-sea-but-only-up-to-the/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [COLD. Healthier than heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/cold-healthier-than-heat/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [And indeed, what is better than to sit by one's fireside in the evening with a book, while the wind beats against the window…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/and-indeed-what-is-better-than-to-sit-by-one-s-fireside-in-the/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [One's existence should be in two parts: one should live like a bourgeois and think like a demigod.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/one-s-existence-should-be-in-two-parts-one-should-live-like-a/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) > [Emma was no asleep, she was pretending to be asleep; and, while he was dozing off at her side, she lay awake, dreaming other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/emma-was-no-asleep-she-was-pretending-to-be-asleep-and-while-he-was/) [Gustave Flaubert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) [Explore all 526 Gustave Flaubert quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/) ## More Curse quotes > [Who knew the counter-curse was just unjellify?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucius-malfoy/who-knew-the-counter-curse-was-just-unjellify/) [Lucius Malfoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucius-malfoy/) > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [You have been deceived by your own cold heart - a curse upon your house and all within it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beauty-and-the-beast/you-have-been-deceived-by-your-own-cold-heart-a-curse-upon-your-house/) [Beauty And The Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beauty-and-the-beast/) > [The old men of the village of Mahotière say that the Mistress of the Water is a mulatto woman. At midnight she comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-roumain/the-old-men-of-the-village-of-mahoti-re-say-that-the-mistress-of-the/) [Jacques Roumain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-roumain/) > [“Mary: Some call this "Eve's curse," but I think that is stupid because the real curse of Eve was having to put up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/mary-some-call-this-eve-s-curse-but-i-think-that-is-stupid-because/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [Were you indeed not blinded by the Curse Of Self-exile, that still grows worse and worse, Yourselves would know that, though you see him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farid-al-din-attar/were-you-indeed-not-blinded-by-the-curse-of-self-exile-that-still/) [Farid al-Din Attar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farid-al-din-attar/) > [Down where I grew up, able-bodied people do that which we believe God created them to do. Work is a blessing; it's not a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-southerland/down-where-i-grew-up-able-bodied-people-do-that-which-we-believe-god/) [Steve Southerland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-southerland/) > [I especially like the songs Hurry Up and The Curse Of Castle Dragon, and I often include them in my live show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gilbert/i-especially-like-the-songs-hurry-up-and-the-curse-of-castle-dragon/) [Paul Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gilbert/) > [If the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are. We can choose rest over labour, entertainment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/if-the-idea-of-having-to-change-ourselves-makes-us-uncomfortable-we/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [“Mungu akikubariki kipaji chako watu watasema ni laana. Maisha yako ni sawa na mto. Unakoelekea ni baharini. Lakini sasa umefika kwenye mlango wa bahari.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enock-maregesi/mungu-akikubariki-kipaji-chako-watu-watasema-ni-laana-maisha-yako-ni/) [Enock Maregesi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enock-maregesi/) > [Partisanship is our great curse. We too readily assume that everything has two sides and that it is our duty to be on one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-harvey-robinson/partisanship-is-our-great-curse-we-too-readily-assume-that-everything/) [James Harvey Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-harvey-robinson/) > [You have power over my body but the Lord Jesus hath power over my body and soul; and assure yourselves thus much, you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hutchinson/you-have-power-over-my-body-but-the-lord-jesus-hath-power-over-my/) [Anne Hutchinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hutchinson/) > [“The penis, often regarded as a weapon, is also a burden, the male curse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gay-talese/the-penis-often-regarded-as-a-weapon-is-also-a-burden-the-male-curse/) [Gay Talese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gay-talese/) > [“Beauty will always be a curse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-c-perry/beauty-will-always-be-a-curse/) [L.C. Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-c-perry/) > [“Sometimes," Helena continued, "I have a terrible dream of the future. Not now, but presently, people may forget their loyalty to their kings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/sometimes-helena-continued-i-have-a-terrible-dream-of-the-future-not/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) [Browse all 1,718 Curse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As words have an effective power of their own, curses reported against someone might turn against the speaker.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gustave Flaubert" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-their-own-curses-reported-against/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Curse" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-their-own-curses-reported-against/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/gustave-flaubert-354_curse_as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-thei_2153899.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/gustave-flaubert-354_curse_as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-thei_2153899.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/gustave-flaubert-354_curse_as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-thei_2153899.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As words have an effective power of their own, curses reported against someone might turn against the speaker.” — Gustave Flaubert", "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": "Gustave Flaubert", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustave-flaubert/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As words have an effective power...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-their-own-curses-reported-against/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustave-flaubert/as-words-have-an-effective-power-of-their-own-curses-reported-against/#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 } } ] } ```