The proverb “My tongue is my enemy” is known to everyone. Now we will try to understand its meaning and rules of use. Often this statement is pronounced with disapproval.
Value
The expression "My tongue is my enemy", as a rule, is used by a person if he, not restraining himself on time and not thinking, says something in the fervor that he will later regret. It can be used when someone, and perhaps the speaker himself, has very openly opened up, undeservedly offended anyone with a word, let slip, or promised too much.
Quotes
Now let's see how the expression “Language is my enemy” is used in literature. Poems with the mention of this proverb are very numerous. They belong to both classical and contemporary authors. For example, consider the work of V. Grossman, "The Cook." In it, the hero, Andrei Veniaminovich, pronounces “My tongue is my enemy” after the guest leaves, complaining that he had spoken unnecessary things before him, and wishing he had been stopped in time. He is irritated, as well as a desire to teach and blame. The same proverb is found at Ostrovsky in the play “Old Friend” during the description of a quarrel that happened by chance.
The expression “My tongue is my enemy” also appears in Leskov in the work “Laughter and sorrow” and refers to the reprimand for the stupidity of the words spoken. Mamin-Sibiryak also used this saying in his works.
The origins
Now let's talk about the origin of the proverb. In past times, the full version of the saying was actively used. It looks like this: "My tongue is my enemy: before the mind speaks." The second part of the expression also refers to incontinence in expressions and utterances. In addition, she describes the habit of saying too much, thereby causing harm to oneself.
This expression has been known to man since ancient times. It is found in Juvenal, a Roman satirist. He claims that the language of a fool is death for him. With the idea expressed in the saying, a lot of the sayings of great people echoes. Plutarch, for example, argued that people learn from ordinary mortals in conversation, and from gods in silence.
Publius Cyrus argued that the inability to remain silent is directly related to the inability to speak. Language is often the enemy of the fair sex. Sophocles on this occasion said that the adornment of women is silence. Complemented by Thomas Fuller. He argued that, although silence and the best decoration of a woman, it, unfortunately, is almost never used.
F. Bacon, in turn, argued that silence is an indicator of wisdom. According to Sydney Smith, it is the lack of words that makes the conversation interesting. Publius Cyrus argued that reasonable silence is better than stupid talk.
In ancient times, the language was called the first adversary. In Russia, another similar statement was known. They said that the language of trouble is seeking, and prowls before the mind. Elena Arkhipova in her work “I and the Language. Who will win?" He claims that he often refers to this proverb and conducts an unequal battle with what has been said. W. Gaslitt called silence one of the greatest conversation skills. Such a saying also echoes the proverb "My tongue is my enemy."