The Dangers of Mocking Words
A story from the *Zizhi Tongjian* tells of a banquet where寇准’s beard accidentally touched his soup. 丁谓 stood up and gently wiped it clean. But寇准 mocked him: “As a high official, is your duty to wipe your leader’s beard?”
丁谓 never forgot the insult. Though寇准’s words seemed like a joke, they cut deep. 丁谓 later allied with others寇准 had ridiculed, and together they spoke against him before the emperor. Eventually, the emperor himself saw寇准 as harsh-tongued. His political career collapsed, and he was exiled until his death.
The tragedy began with a careless remark. Everyone has pride. As Confucius said, “Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.” A sharp word today may become a blade turned against you tomorrow.
Words can warm or wound. Choose them wisely. To be kind is not weakness—it is wisdom. Guard your tongue, and you guard your peace.