--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lord, give us the wisdom to utter words…" description: "\"Lord, give us the wisdom to utter words that are gentle and tender, for tomorrow we may have to eat them.\" — Mo Udall" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/mo-udall-33833_gentle_lord-give-us-the-wisdom-to-utter-words-t_2660794.jpg" --- # Lord, give us the wisdom to utter words that are gentle… ![“Lord, give us the wisdom to utter words that are gentle and tender, for tomorrow we may have to eat them.” quote by Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/mo-udall-33833_gentle_lord-give-us-the-wisdom-to-utter-words-t_2660794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/mo-udall-33833_gentle_lord-give-us-the-wisdom-to-utter-words-t_2660794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/mo-udall-33833_gentle_lord-give-us-the-wisdom-to-utter-words-t_2660794.jpg) > “Lord, give us the wisdom to utter words that are gentle and tender, for tomorrow we may have to eat them.” [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A plea for wisdom to speak gently, anticipating future consequences of harsh words. **In simple terms:** Seek wisdom to speak gently. Key Takeaway Practice gentle speech. Themes wisdom speech gentleness future consequences Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - public speaking - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts ethics communication studies Questions to Reflect On - How does language shape outcomes? - What practices foster gentle communication? A Different Perspective Gentle speech may be seen as weak. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gentle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentle/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Tomorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tomorrow/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [“Let your words be gentle enough to touch the heart and true enough to stir the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/let-your-words-be-gentle-enough-to-touch-the-heart-and-true-enough-to/) [Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/) > [He kissed me, though not in a sexy way. Gentle. Tender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-kissed-me-though-not-in-a-sexy-way-gentle-tender/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [“I wanted to reach out and stroke her, to be gentle and tender towards her. Take care of her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lusarde/i-wanted-to-reach-out-and-stroke-her-to-be-gentle-and-tender-towards/) [James Lusarde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lusarde/) > [“ I’d be real gentle, though. Tender. I promise. It’s just that I’ve felt nothing but my own hand for so long. I’d kill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-mckenna/i-d-be-real-gentle-though-tender-i-promise-it-s-just-that-i-ve-felt/) [Cara McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-mckenna/) > [“Minds with fixed ideas are like granite: They can never be penetrated with soft words and gentle persuasions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/minds-with-fixed-ideas-are-like-granite-they-can-never-be-penetrated/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Friends share our pain and touch our wounds with a gentle and tender hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/friends-share-our-pain-and-touch-our-wounds-with-a-gentle-and-tender/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [How gentle and tender ought we to be with others who are foolish when we remember how foolish we are ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/how-gentle-and-tender-ought-we-to-be-with-others-who-are-foolish-when/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [If you and your child were going to be killed tomorrow, would you not give him to eat today?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/primo-levi/if-you-and-your-child-were-going-to-be-killed-tomorrow-would-you-not/) [Primo Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/primo-levi/) > [I've learned... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/i-ve-learned-that-one-should-keep-his-words-both-soft-and-tender/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [Keep your words soft and tender because tomorrow you may have to eat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/keep-your-words-soft-and-tender-because-tomorrow-you-may-have-to-eat/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Always make your words thoughtful, soft & mallable, for tomorrow you may have to eat them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-newberry/always-make-your-words-thoughtful-soft-mallable-for-tomorrow-you-may/) Colin Newberry > [“Tomorrow... we must eat more lunch. - Alisha”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-sparkes/tomorrow-we-must-eat-more-lunch-alisha/) [Ali Sparkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-sparkes/) > [“Why put off until tomorrow, what you can eat today.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garfield-the-cat/why-put-off-until-tomorrow-what-you-can-eat-today/) Garfield the cat > [“I want these gentle hands... and this kind smile... although I should not want such a thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuri-hino-vampire-knight/i-want-these-gentle-hands-and-this-kind-smile-although-i-should-not/) [Matsuri Hino, Vampire Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuri-hino-vampire-knight/) > [The sun, a red wheel, was sinking slowly in the west. Besides being spectacularly beautiful, the early-summer sunset was exceedingly soft and gentle: black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-yan/the-sun-a-red-wheel-was-sinking-slowly-in-the-west-besides-being/) [Mo Yan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-yan/) ## More by Mo Udall > [The more we exploit nature, The more our options are reduced, until we have only one: to fight for survival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/the-more-we-exploit-nature-the-more-our-options-are-reduced-until-we/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [I've been through legislation creating a dozen national parks, and there's always the same pattern. When you first propose a park, and you visit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/i-ve-been-through-legislation-creating-a-dozen-national-parks-and/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [If nominated, I shall run to Mexico. If elected, I shall fight extradition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/if-nominated-i-shall-run-to-mexico-if-elected-i-shall-fight/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [If you can find something everyone agrees on, it's wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/if-you-can-find-something-everyone-agrees-on-it-s-wrong/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [One puts on black robes to scare the hell out of white people, while the other puts on white robes to scare the hell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/one-puts-on-black-robes-to-scare-the-hell-out-of-white-people-while/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [Let's turn inflation over to the Post Office. That'll slow it down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/let-s-turn-inflation-over-to-the-post-office-that-ll-slow-it-down/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [For those of you who don't understand Reaganomics, it's based on the principle that the rich and the poor will get the same amount…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/for-those-of-you-who-don-t-understand-reaganomics-it-s-based-on-the/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [The ability to change one's views without losing one's seat is the mark of a great politician.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/the-ability-to-change-one-s-views-without-losing-one-s-seat-is-the/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [I have learned the difference between a cactus and a caucus. On a cactus, the pricks are on the outside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/i-have-learned-the-difference-between-a-cactus-and-a-caucus-on-a/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [Any change or reform you make is going to have consequence you don't like.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/any-change-or-reform-you-make-is-going-to-have-consequence-you-don-t/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [Many respected economists and statesmen believe our national debt is neither unwieldy nor a dangerous burden on the country. The trouble is that a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/many-respected-economists-and-statesmen-believe-our-national-debt-is/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [In terms of wilderness preservation, Alaska is the last frontier. This time, given one great final chance, let us strive to do it right.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/in-terms-of-wilderness-preservation-alaska-is-the-last-frontier-this/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) > [I think politicians sometimes badly underestimate the true feelings that Americans have for the land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/i-think-politicians-sometimes-badly-underestimate-the-true-feelings/) [Mo Udall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) [Explore all 14 Mo Udall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/) ## More Gentle quotes > [The sun, a red wheel, was sinking slowly in the west. Besides being spectacularly beautiful, the early-summer sunset was exceedingly soft and gentle: black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-yan/the-sun-a-red-wheel-was-sinking-slowly-in-the-west-besides-being/) [Mo Yan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-yan/) > [“I want these gentle hands... and this kind smile... although I should not want such a thing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matsuri-hino-vampire-knight/i-want-these-gentle-hands-and-this-kind-smile-although-i-should-not/) [Matsuri Hino, Vampire Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matsuri-hino-vampire-knight/) > [“Woe to you, my Princess, when I come. I will kiss you quite red and feed you till you are plump. And if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/woe-to-you-my-princess-when-i-come-i-will-kiss-you-quite-red-and-feed/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [On Hanukkah, the first dark night, Light yourself a candle bright. I'll you, if you will me invite To dance within that gentle light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-gordon/on-hanukkah-the-first-dark-night-light-yourself-a-candle-bright-i-ll/) [Nick Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-gordon/) > [Beware, gentle knight - the greatest monster of them all is reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/beware-gentle-knight-the-greatest-monster-of-them-all-is-reason/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [If you like I'll be furious flesh elemental, or- changing to tones that the sunset arouses- if you like- I'll be extraordinary gentle, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-mayakovsky/if-you-like-i-ll-be-furious-flesh-elemental-or-changing-to-tones-that/) [Vladimir Mayakovsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-mayakovsky/) > [Modesty is the gentle art of enhancing your charm by pretending not to be aware of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-herford/modesty-is-the-gentle-art-of-enhancing-your-charm-by-pretending-not/) [Oliver Herford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-herford/) > [“Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you high. People who are gentle, humble and able always have a great ending no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/humble-yourself-before-the-lord-and-he-will-lift-you-high-people-who/) [israelmore ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [The world is hard and cruel. We are here none knows why, and we go none knows whither. We must be very humble. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/the-world-is-hard-and-cruel-we-are-here-none-knows-why-and-we-go-none/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [He kissed me, though not in a sexy way. Gentle. Tender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/he-kissed-me-though-not-in-a-sexy-way-gentle-tender/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [Layla brought her arms around herself, no doubt because she was remembering the feel of another, stronger set. "I have wanted to, but he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-ward/layla-brought-her-arms-around-herself-no-doubt-because-she-was/) [J.R. Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-ward/) > [Put all our pride away, always find a gentle word to say, you know we shouldn't be full of ourselves when we should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawud-wharnsby-ali/put-all-our-pride-away-always-find-a-gentle-word-to-say-you-know-we/) [Dawud Wharnsby Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawud-wharnsby-ali/) > [Be gentle with yourself, learn to love yourself, to forgive yourself, for only as we have the right attitude toward ourselves can we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/be-gentle-with-yourself-learn-to-love-yourself-to-forgive-yourself/) [Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/) > [The only justice is to follow the sincere intuition of the soul, angry or gentle. Anger is just, and pity is just, but judgement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-justice-is-to-follow-the-sincere-intuition-of-the-soul-angry/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Schools have never been about getting access to information. That's the job of libraries. Schools and universities have nobler missions as gentle gatekeepers. Their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/schools-have-never-been-about-getting-access-to-information-that-s/) Andrew Nikiforuk [Browse all 1,561 Gentle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentle/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Lord, give us the wisdom to utter words that are gentle and tender, for tomorrow we may have to eat them.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mo Udall" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/lord-give-us-the-wisdom-to-utter-words-that-are-gentle-and-tender-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gentle" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/lord-give-us-the-wisdom-to-utter-words-that-are-gentle-and-tender-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/mo-udall-33833_gentle_lord-give-us-the-wisdom-to-utter-words-t_2660794.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/mo-udall-33833_gentle_lord-give-us-the-wisdom-to-utter-words-t_2660794.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c20/mo-udall-33833_gentle_lord-give-us-the-wisdom-to-utter-words-t_2660794.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Lord, give us the wisdom to utter words that are gentle and tender, for tomorrow we may have to eat them.” — Mo Udall", "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": "Mo Udall", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-udall/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Lord, give us the wisdom to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/lord-give-us-the-wisdom-to-utter-words-that-are-gentle-and-tender-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-udall/lord-give-us-the-wisdom-to-utter-words-that-are-gentle-and-tender-for/#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 } } ] } ```