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Malba Tahan illustrates the dangers of words: a woman said so
often that her neighbor was a thief that the young man was finally
arrested. Some days later, they discovered that he was innocent
and set him free. Then he sued the woman.
- Comments are not so serious - she said to the judge.
- Granted - answered the magistrate. - When you get back home
today, write down everything bad you said about the young man, then
tear up the paper and throw the bits away as you walk along. Come
back tomorrow to hear the sentence.
The woman obeyed and returned the following day.
- You are pardoned if you give me the bits of paper you spread
on the street yesterday. Otherwise you will be condemned to a year
in prison - declared the magistrate.
- But that's impossible! The wind has blown them all away!
- In the very same way, a simple comment can be spread by the
wind and destroy a man's honor, and afterwards it is impossible
to repair the harm that has been done.
And he sent the woman off to jail.
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