--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Words can be used as a bomb or balm." description: "\"Words can be used as a bomb or balm.\" — Megan McCafferty" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/megan-mccafferty-1994_balm_words-can-be-used-as-a-bomb-or-balm-1984_1984085.png" --- # Words can be used as a bomb or balm. ![“Words can be used as a bomb or balm.” quote by Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/megan-mccafferty-1994_balm_words-can-be-used-as-a-bomb-or-balm-1984_1984085.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/megan-mccafferty-1994_balm_words-can-be-used-as-a-bomb-or-balm-1984_1984085.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/megan-mccafferty-1994_balm_words-can-be-used-as-a-bomb-or-balm-1984_1984085.png) > “Words can be used as a bomb or balm.” [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Words have the power to harm like a bomb or heal like a balm, depending on intent. **In simple terms:** Words can hurt or heal. Key Takeaway Choose language that uplifts. Themes communication power emotion ethics Mood thoughtful cautionary Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - conflict resolution - writing - teaching Key Concepts Linguistic impact psychological effect Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure your words heal? - When can harsh words be justified? A Different Perspective Misinterpretation can turn intended balm into harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bombs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bombs/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words/) ## Related quotes > [The reason they call it 'golf' is that all the other 4 letter words were used up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-nielsen/the-reason-they-call-it-golf-is-that-all-the-other-4-letter-words/) [Leslie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-nielsen/) > [I am not sure why, but I have been obsessed by the Atom Bomb ever since it first happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lanford-wilson/i-am-not-sure-why-but-i-have-been-obsessed-by-the-atom-bomb-ever/) [Lanford Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lanford-wilson/) > [A bomb makes more noise than a caress, but for each bomb that destroys, there are millions of caresses that nourish life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/facundo-cabral/a-bomb-makes-more-noise-than-a-caress-but-for-each-bomb-that-destroys/) [Facundo Cabral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/facundo-cabral/) > [I believe if you’re going to bomb someone you should know them first. It should hurt when you kill someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-steves/i-believe-if-you-re-going-to-bomb-someone-you-should-know-them-first/) [Rick Steves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-steves/) > [Affleck was the bomb in Phantoms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-affleck/affleck-was-the-bomb-in-phantoms/) [Ben Affleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-affleck/) > [I knew that I'd lived in New York too long when, a few years ago, I was on a subway going downtown, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-black/i-knew-that-i-d-lived-in-new-york-too-long-when-a-few-years-ago-i-was/) [Lewis Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-black/) > [The art of Frida Kahlo is a ribbon around a bomb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andr-breton/the-art-of-frida-kahlo-is-a-ribbon-around-a-bomb/) [Andre Breton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andr-breton/) > [He felt as though his heart were a bomb, a complicated bomb that would result in a simple explosion, wrecking the world without rocking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathanael-west/he-felt-as-though-his-heart-were-a-bomb-a-complicated-bomb-that-would/) [Nathanael West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathanael-west/) > [You can't disassemble a bomb unless you understand how it was built.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tickell/you-can-t-disassemble-a-bomb-unless-you-understand-how-it-was-built/) [Josh Tickell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tickell/) > [The car bomb was fertilizer, gasoline, fireworks and propane tanks...still safer than a Toyota.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/the-car-bomb-was-fertilizer-gasoline-fireworks-and-propane-tanks/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [Remember the good old days when the only bomb you had to worry about on a plane was the Rob Schneider movie?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/remember-the-good-old-days-when-the-only-bomb-you-had-to-worry-about/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [When I was 18, I went to the Soviet Union. I kept hearing that America was planning to bomb them - lots of bombs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-walker/when-i-was-18-i-went-to-the-soviet-union-i-kept-hearing-that-america/) [Alice Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-walker/) > [“Something, which the police called a bomb, had exploded in his shed. Investigations were begun, and the efforts of the authorities were soon to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-von-salomon/something-which-the-police-called-a-bomb-had-exploded-in-his-shed/) Ernst von Salomon > [I don't try to be a sex bomb. I am one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-minogue/i-don-t-try-to-be-a-sex-bomb-i-am-one/) [Kylie Minogue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-minogue/) > [It's cheap, and you have a thinking, breathing bomb that can adjust to circumstances and cross the street to hit another target if the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-bloom/it-s-cheap-and-you-have-a-thinking-breathing-bomb-that-can-adjust-to/) [Mia Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-bloom/) ## More by Megan McCafferty > [As much as I don't care about those things, I think it's human nature to not want to feel totally insignificant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/as-much-as-i-don-t-care-about-those-things-i-think-it-s-human-nature/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [“I almost can’t believe I’m going to make myself vulnerable to him again. But what is love but the most”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/i-almost-can-t-believe-i-m-going-to-make-myself-vulnerable-to-him/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [I believe that what we get out of life is what we've set ourselves up to get, so there's no such thing as an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/i-believe-that-what-we-get-out-of-life-is-what-we-ve-set-ourselves-up/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [It's just Jessica and Marcus, oxymoronically alone together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/it-s-just-jessica-and-marcus-oxymoronically-alone-together/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [When you say too much about anything important, it always ends up sounding more trivial than it is. Words trash it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/when-you-say-too-much-about-anything-important-it-always-ends-up/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [“Don't talk to strangers. Don't do drugs. Don't smoke. Don't drink and drive. Don't have sex. Wear a condom. Wear sunblock. Wear a seat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/don-t-talk-to-strangers-don-t-do-drugs-don-t-smoke-don-t-drink-and/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [“We help others only as much as they let us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/we-help-others-only-as-much-as-they-let-us/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [Gone for a while Hoping, always, to return If you will let me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/gone-for-a-while-hoping-always-to-return-if-you-will-let-me/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [You, yes, you, linger inside my heart The same you who stopped us before we could start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/you-yes-you-linger-inside-my-heart-the-same-you-who-stopped-us-before/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [I used to think that I wouldn't change anything from my past, because doing so would inevitably affect who I am now. But considering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/i-used-to-think-that-i-wouldn-t-change-anything-from-my-past-because/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [The higher my GPA gets the more I realize high school is useless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/the-higher-my-gpa-gets-the-more-i-realize-high-school-is-useless/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [I know it makes sense for me and him to just break up now and just live our seperate lives and not have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/i-know-it-makes-sense-for-me-and-him-to-just-break-up-now-and-just/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [“Because I've learned that you can't control what other people are going to think about you. The best you can do in life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/because-i-ve-learned-that-you-can-t-control-what-other-people-are/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [furious flutter awakened hummingbird heart hello hello love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/furious-flutter-awakened-hummingbird-heart-hello-hello-love/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) > [And yet I know I am too young, that we're too young, for me to live my life only as it relates to you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/and-yet-i-know-i-am-too-young-that-we-re-too-young-for-me-to-live-my/) [Megan McCafferty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) [Explore all 193 Megan McCafferty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/) ## More Balm quotes > [“Being useful was a balm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxane-gay/being-useful-was-a-balm/) [Roxane Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roxane-gay/) > [I don't worry about chemicals. There are enough chemicals entering my body through all the fizzy drinks I consume to worry if my lip…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edie-campbell/i-don-t-worry-about-chemicals-there-are-enough-chemicals-entering-my/) [Edie Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edie-campbell/) > [I like Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, as it's great for soothing dry skin and adding shine. I use it instead of balm, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-madekwe/i-like-elizabeth-arden-eight-hour-cream-as-it-s-great-for-soothing/) [Ashley Madekwe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-madekwe/) > [If I have a pocket, then I'll have lip balm, my keys, and $10 cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-messing/if-i-have-a-pocket-then-i-ll-have-lip-balm-my-keys-and-10-cash/) [Debra Messing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-messing/) > [Theatre requires devotion that is all-consuming. When we started out, we didn't mind working 12 hours a day. We didn't mind going endlessly over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenne-headly/theatre-requires-devotion-that-is-all-consuming-when-we-started-out/) [Glenne Headly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenne-headly/) > [I always put a layer of lip balm first, and then I layer the lipstick on by using a lip brush to help get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gracie-gold/i-always-put-a-layer-of-lip-balm-first-and-then-i-layer-the-lipstick/) [Gracie Gold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gracie-gold/) > [“Inside, I found three things: a silver mirror, a silk handkerchief, and a glass flask of ointment. These items will help you on your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elif-shafak/inside-i-found-three-things-a-silver-mirror-a-silk-handkerchief-and-a/) [Elif Shafak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elif-shafak/) > [“Push words. Pull light. Carry balm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-myron/push-words-pull-light-carry-balm/) Drew Myron > [I always have at least four different lip products in my purse - I'm obsessed! I'm into L'Oreal Infallible Le Rouge 'Unending Kiss.' It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edy-ganem/i-always-have-at-least-four-different-lip-products-in-my-purse-i-m/) [Edy Ganem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edy-ganem/) > [I feel like lip balm is something that you need to have. The worst thing ever is having dry lips.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-mua/i-feel-like-lip-balm-is-something-that-you-need-to-have-the-worst/) [Manny MUA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-mua/) > [I am a lip balm fiend. I have one in every pocket, every purse, and every coat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-zegler/i-am-a-lip-balm-fiend-i-have-one-in-every-pocket-every-purse-and/) [Rachel Zegler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-zegler/) > [I always carry a tinted moisturiser with SPF sunscreen. A good lip balm is a must - I can't go past Lucas's Papaw Cream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-hart/i-always-carry-a-tinted-moisturiser-with-spf-sunscreen-a-good-lip/) [Jessica Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-hart/) > [Being by the sea is a balm for the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-odudu/being-by-the-sea-is-a-balm-for-the-soul/) [A. J. Odudu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-odudu/) > [Lip balm can double up for taming the brows, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-coyle/lip-balm-can-double-up-for-taming-the-brows-too/) [Nadine Coyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-coyle/) > [Religion is the balm of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/religion-is-the-balm-of-the-people/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) Browse all 43 Balm quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Words can be used as a bomb or balm.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Megan McCafferty" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/words-can-be-used-as-a-bomb-or-balm/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Balm" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/words-can-be-used-as-a-bomb-or-balm/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/megan-mccafferty-1994_balm_words-can-be-used-as-a-bomb-or-balm-1984_1984085.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/megan-mccafferty-1994_balm_words-can-be-used-as-a-bomb-or-balm-1984_1984085.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/megan-mccafferty-1994_balm_words-can-be-used-as-a-bomb-or-balm-1984_1984085.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Words can be used as a bomb or balm.” — Megan McCafferty", "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": "Megan McCafferty", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mccafferty/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Words can be used as a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/words-can-be-used-as-a-bomb-or-balm/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mccafferty/words-can-be-used-as-a-bomb-or-balm/#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 } } ] } ```