Courses Quote by Walter Raleigh
“According to Solomon, life and death are in the power of the tongue; and as Euripides truly affirmeth, every unbridled tongue in the end shall find itself unfortunate; for in all that ever I observed in the course of worldly things, I ever found that men's fortunes are oftener made by their tongues than by their virtues, and more men's fortunes overthrown thereby, also, than by their vices.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: The Art of War, attributed to Sun Tzu, 5th century BC (paraphrased)
Words wield power over fate; speech can create or destroy fortunes more than virtue or vice.
In simple terms: Speech can shape destiny.
Key Takeaway
Choose words carefully.
Themes
communication
power
consequence
Mood
cautionary
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- Political debates
- court negotiations
- media commentary
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
Rhetoric
oral tradition
Questions to Reflect On
- What words have changed your life?
- Can silence be more powerful than speech?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on speech may ignore structural factors.
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![“[It is a basic principle of a tyrant] to unarm his people of weapons, money and all means whereby they resist his power.” quote by Walter Raleigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85b/walter-raleigh-4068_basic-principles_it-is-a-basic-principle-of-a-tyrant-to-u_111241.jpg)
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![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
