--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sticks and stones can break my bones but…" description: "\"“Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me unless they are written on sticks and stones.”\" — Nitya Prakash" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/nitya-prakash-13244_bones_sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but_1972002.jpg" --- # Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never… ![“Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me unless they are written on sticks and stones.” quote by Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/nitya-prakash-13244_bones_sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but_1972002.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/nitya-prakash-13244_bones_sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but_1972002.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/nitya-prakash-13244_bones_sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but_1972002.jpg) > ““Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me unless they are written on sticks and stones.”” [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) ## 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 harm only when they are recorded and used as weapons, otherwise they are harmless. **In simple terms:** Words only hurt when written and used as weapons. Key Takeaway Be wary of recorded words. Themes communication power vulnerability Mood cautious reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - online harassment - political propaganda - bullying - defamation Key Concepts psychology social influence Questions to Reflect On - How do we balance free expression with preventing harm? - When should speech be regulated? A Different Perspective Written words can be weaponized, so freedom of speech has limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bones/) [Bones Words](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bones-words-523785/) [Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/break/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Stick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stick/) [Sticks and stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks-and-stones/) [Sticks Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sticks-stones-293253/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) [Stones Break](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones-break-523784/) [Written Sticks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-sticks-3316569/) ## Related quotes > [“Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/sticks-and-stones-may-break-our-bones-but-words-will-break-our-hearts/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will make me go in a corner and cry by myself for hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-will-make-me-go-in-a/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can make me think I deserved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-munroe/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-make-me-think-i/) [Randall Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-munroe/) > [“Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can break hearts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-minchin/sticks-and-stones-may-break-your-bones-but-words-can-break-hearts/) [Tim Minchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-minchin/) > [“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words have the power to destroy me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellie-messe/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-have-the-power-to/) [Ellie Messe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellie-messe/) > [sticks and stones can only break bones; but words can shatter the soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-savage/sticks-and-stones-can-only-break-bones-but-words-can-shatter-the-soul/) [Adam Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-savage/) > [Sticks and stones may break my bones but words may never hurt me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-may-never-hurt-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The old saw that "sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never harm me" does not, in fact, hold true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-old-saw-that-sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but-words-will/) [Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/) > [“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will always hurt me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-will-always-hurt-me-2/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“Sticks and stones will break your bones, but now words can kill, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/sticks-and-stones-will-break-your-bones-but-now-words-can-kill-too/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will break my soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-lopez/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-will-break-my-soul/) [Kathryn Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-lopez/) > [Sticks and stones will break our bones, but words will break our hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fulghum/sticks-and-stones-will-break-our-bones-but-words-will-break-our-hearts/) [Robert Fulghum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fulghum/) > [“sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will make me cry by myself in a corner for hours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-idle/sticks-and-stones-will-break-my-bones-but-words-will-make-me-cry-by/) [Eric Idle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-idle/) > [Sticks and stones may break my bones but words are what will kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-are-what-will-kill-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can do much worse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madi/sticks-and-stones-may-break-my-bones-but-words-can-do-much-worse/) [Madi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madi/) ## More by Nitya Prakash > [“We gave each other so much space that eventually there were a few galaxies between us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/we-gave-each-other-so-much-space-that-eventually-there-were-a-few/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“Love is often just an act of pretending that it exists.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/love-is-often-just-an-act-of-pretending-that-it-exists/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“I think I owe you the time you wasted in ignoring me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/i-think-i-owe-you-the-time-you-wasted-in-ignoring-me/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“Love is an immortal lie!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/love-is-an-immortal-lie/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“Slapping your pockets to make sure you haven't lost anything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/slapping-your-pockets-to-make-sure-you-haven-t-lost-anything/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“Throwing lamps at people who need to lighten up...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/throwing-lamps-at-people-who-need-to-lighten-up/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“You see the wall he's building around him. You don’t see the prisoner he's turning into.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/you-see-the-wall-he-s-building-around-him-you-don-t-see-the-prisoner/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“In my eyes is a post office, filled with letters of apologies that have no forwarding addresses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/in-my-eyes-is-a-post-office-filled-with-letters-of-apologies-that/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“You don't have to announce on Facebook when you're taking a Facebook break. There's nobody you need to apply for leave to, and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/you-don-t-have-to-announce-on-facebook-when-you-re-taking-a-facebook/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“I wanted to tell you I loved you, but the butterflies in my stomach swarmed my throat, and all the words got caught in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/i-wanted-to-tell-you-i-loved-you-but-the-butterflies-in-my-stomach/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“Dear heart, Stop being strong and accept that you are never happy with goodbyes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/dear-heart-stop-being-strong-and-accept-that-you-are-never-happy-with/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“She wasn't a constellation. She was a galaxy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/she-wasn-t-a-constellation-she-was-a-galaxy/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“It's me being me making you be you...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/it-s-me-being-me-making-you-be-you/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“I know I am losing many but I am loving the person life is turning me into.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/i-know-i-am-losing-many-but-i-am-loving-the-person-life-is-turning-me/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) > [“The worst thing about a girl with a broken heart is that she starts to hand out the pieces to anyone who come around.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/the-worst-thing-about-a-girl-with-a-broken-heart-is-that-she-starts/) [Nitya Prakash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) [Explore all 51 Nitya Prakash quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/) ## 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. Shakespeare may have seen for himself the gravediggers at St Ann's, Soho, playing skittles with skulls and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catharine-arnold/death-and-burial-were-a-public-spectacle-shakespeare-may-have-seen/) [Catharine Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catharine-arnold/) > [REVIEW, v.t. 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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Especially when you’ve got death breathing down your neck.” “Very funny,” I retorted, since Bones was inches…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-m-in-cat-i-d-never-leave-you-especially-when-you-ve-got-death/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) [Browse all 2,113 Bones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bones/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me unless they are written on sticks and stones.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nitya Prakash" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but-words-can-never-hurt-me/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bones" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but-words-can-never-hurt-me/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/nitya-prakash-13244_bones_sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but_1972002.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/nitya-prakash-13244_bones_sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but_1972002.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/nitya-prakash-13244_bones_sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but_1972002.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me unless they are written on sticks and stones.” — Nitya Prakash", "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": "Nitya Prakash", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nitya-prakash/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Sticks and stones can break my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but-words-can-never-hurt-me/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nitya-prakash/sticks-and-stones-can-break-my-bones-but-words-can-never-hurt-me/#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 } } ] } ```