June 4, 1781
Life of Samuel Johnson (1791), Vol IV
“Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts.”
Source: All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (1986)
Context: Yelling at living things does tend to kill the spirit in them. Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words will break our hearts.
“A bruise to the ego hurts more than a break to the bone.”
Source: Life, the Truth, and Being Free (2010), p. 60
“To think new thoughts you have to break the bones in your head”
“Sticks and stones will break your bones, but failure will get you killed.”
Source: Narcissus in Chains
“Sticks and stones can break your bones, but names can kill you.”
Source: The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil
“Sticks and stones may break your bones, but watch out for those damn words.”
Variant: Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can hurt like hell.
Source: Lullaby (2002), Chapter 14
“Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can hurt like hell.”
Source: Lullaby (2002), Chapter 14
