Would you be a great person or a perfect person? If you can control your tongue you can do anything. Here are twelve perfect lessons. Consider them carefully and they may extend your life with happiness for a considerable period. The apostle gives us a thorough insight into the subject.

"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh." (James 3:2-12)


1. "He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life; but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction" (Proverbs 13:3)

2. "Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him" (Proverbs 29:20)

3. "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him" (Proverbs 18:13)

4. "...Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment" (Matthew 12:36)

5. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29)

6. "A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" (Proverbs 15:23)

7. "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles" (Proverbs 21:23)

8. "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger... A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit" (Proverbs 15:1,4.)

9. "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding" (Proverbs 17:28.)

10. "The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly" (Proverbs 18:8)

11. "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile" (I Peter 3:10.)

12. "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain" (James 1:26.)