Phylbert’s
Words
to the
Wise

The Fence

There was a little boy with a bad temper, which he expressed in mean words and hurtful remarks. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper and spoke spitefully, he must hammer a nail into the back fence. By the end of the first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence!

After a few days, the novelty wore off and his nail-driving gradually dwindled. He soon discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to pound those nails into the fence. Finally, a day came when the boy didn’t lose his temper at all.

He told his father about it, and the father suggested that the lad now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. Weeks passed, and one day the boy was able to tell his father that all the nails were now gone.

Father took son by the hand to the back fence and said “You have done well, my boy, but look at the holes in the wooden rails and posts. The fence is damaged, and will never be the same. When you say things in anger, you can leave scars just like these nail holes.”

“You can plunge a knife into a man and draw it out,” he continued. “It won’t matter how many times you say you’re sorry, the wound is still there. Always remember, a verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.”