Do you remember all the situations where you said something you regretted deeply? All the times where you wished to have thought a little bit better before speaking and avoided the embarrassment you faced. I can surely make a long list for the same and I’m sure you have plenty of those just like me, right? To think before you speak is a much-needed skill and today in this blog, we’ll talk about just that along with tips on how to think before you speak.
Read on because, by the end of this blog, you’ll know all my top tips and tricks on how to think before you speak and not put your foot in your mouth!
How difficult can it be to think before you speak?
Thinking before speaking isn’t rare; it’s almost human nature to feel the need to contribute to a conversation. Sometimes, you may feel emotional about a topic and may not think before you talk about it. Hence, it can be pretty hard to stop yourself from blurting out the first thing that pops into your head. There are a variety of reasons that can prevent you from thinking before speaking. So, don’t beat yourself about it if it happens to you.
That being said, you do need to remember that we as humans are social beings and need to communicate effectively in our everyday lives. Communication is the key to happy and sorted relationships. Hence, it’s important to inculcate the habit of being able to think before you speak with anyone.
Why should you think before you speak?
A colleague once asked me why I should think before speaking? How does it even matter!
I didn’t know how to respond then because it just does; thinking before speaking is pretty much a life skill. Here are some basic reasons for you to think before you speak :
- It’s essential for your credibility because if what you communicate isn’t credible or useful, people won’t respect you or your words. Imagine that you are in a group discussion around international relations and you mistakenly mention that the capital of Japan is Beijing in a hurry. If it wasn’t because you didn’t know that Japan’s capital is Tokyo but because you didn’t take the time to process or think before you speak. Such an incident will reduce your credibility but could’ve been easily avoided if you had taken a pause to think.
- Another reason for you to think before you speak is that if you do not think before you speak, you might end up hurting someone. Sometimes when we get emotional, it’s easy to get carried away and react to everything negatively. This is pretty common when we are arguing with our loved ones and hence, can impact our relationships severely. Hence, the ability to think before you speak can be fruitful in such scenarios.
- Thinking before speaking can also help you stay out of trouble in several ways. Let’s say you’re in a meeting and your boss asks for a volunteer to take over the operations for your company’s newly acquired venture in Yemen. You say yes, just to please your boss without understanding the whole deal and now, you don’t know how to refuse. Had you listened and thought before speaking, you’d save yourself from the trouble of explaining yourself.
I hope you got enough reasons to think before you speak now? Great. Now, let’s move on to our next pertinent question.
Why does it happen? Why is it so hard to think before you speak?
The answer to this often has to do with impulse control or to be precise, the lack of it. Impulse control is simply the ability to control an urge to do something or control a reaction to anything. So, it’s possible that you can not think before you speak due to Impulse control issues.
I’m sure you’ve asked yourself, “Why can’t I think clearly when talking to people?” or “Why do I always end up saying the wrong things?” Trust me, because even I have. There are many reasons for this but in general, you don’t think before you speak :
| a lack of patience, |
| the lack of listening skills, or |
| due to impulsiveness. |
The Lack of Patience
Talking about the lack of patience, it’s pretty self-explanatory. Our urge to contribute to a conversation or the urge to be an active part of a discussion can sometimes be problematic. The lack of patience in such scenarios can lead to you interrupting others before they’re done and saying something incorrectly. It’s not easy to be patient and take a pause especially while talking about something we’re passionate about and thus, can lead to speaking before thinking.
The Lack of Listening Skills
Listening skills are as important for effective communication, if not more, than speaking skills. It’s nearly impossible to add something of value to a discussion or carry a conversation forward without listening actively. A lack of listening skills can even negatively impact your relationships as you might end up saying something you don’t mean. Hence, listening is essential to think before you speak. Head to our blog on listening for actionable tips and tricks like here.
Being Impulsive
Being impulsive is another trait that can be the reason behind your inability to think before you speak. Impulsiveness (or impulsivity) is the tendency to act on a whim, displaying behavior characterized by little or no forethought, reflection, or consideration of the consequences. So, being impulsive can lead to you not thinking before speaking too.
You know enough about why you can’t think before you speak normally now, right?
But should you always think before speaking?
I’d say you should mostly think before you speak, it’ll save you a lot of trouble. But if you’re just hanging out with friends and not really discussing anything specific, it’s okay to just go with the flow as well. Overthinking everything just like underthinking can be problematic.
So, yes always try to think enough before you speak but don’t venture into the territory of overthinking. You can read more about overthinking here.
Now that we’ve covered a bunch of questions about why we can’t think before speaking and why we should, let’s get into the ways to achieve it, shall we? I’m going to tell you all actionable ways on how to think before you speak.
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The THINK Acronym
- The ultimate think before you speak trick is the word THINK itself, confused? Don’t be, let me explain. Think of THINK as a think before you speak acronym (you see what I did there?).
Before speaking anything, just THINK; this is to ask yourself five questions: Is what I’m saying True, is it Helpful, is it Inspiring, is it Necessary, and is it Kind enough?
- T For True: Always make sure whatever you are saying is true. Don’t try to make something up or add fuel to gossip just to have something to say. Just be honest and your words will immediately be more impactful.
- H For Helpful: Helpful words are usually appreciated by everyone. So, if you have something to say that can be of help to someone, go ahead. But if you think that your words might be hurtful or mocking, then avoid speaking.
- I For Inspiring: Saying something that’s encouraging, motivational, or inspiring is always a good idea. It can be anything from giving someone a small compliment on someone’s presentation to inspiring others to achieve their goals with your story.
- N For Necessary: Speak when necessary or try not to speak. Often we need to warn people before they do something they shouldn’t or even explain a necessary concept to someone.
- K For Kind: If you don’t have something positive and kind today, don’t say it. Humans are emotional beings and need reassurance from time to time. So, try not to be harsh with your words and don’t hurt others. It’s important to speak considerably and kind to everyone.
This is the golden rule on thinking before you speak, once you ask yourself these questions and get yes as the answer. You’re good to go! Because if what you speak passes this method with flying colors, it’s undoubtedly worthy of being said. As a bonus, this think before you speak acronym is pretty easy to remember. Head to this video to read about this method in detail. Also, you can even put up a think before you speak poster in your room if you’d like to remember this method.
Wait, that’s not all; we’ve got more tips coming up right away for you.
The Power of Mental Pause
- Next up, utilize the power of your mental pause. In the words of Buddha, “Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.”
Simply put, take a breather and compose your thoughts before jumping on the speaking train. Hasty words can trouble you for a long time, even after they have left your mouth. So, learn to press the pause button. Imagine it as a pause button that you use to rewind your thoughts, think of the right response, and finally, press play.
We all have a mental pause button that we can learn to use over time. It’s the time we take to respond and it’s absolutely normal. So, make it a habit to utilize your mental pause button to master how to think before you speak.
If you find the silence disturbing, just say, “I need a minute to ponder over this, thank you” before speaking. It’s always better to take some time to think before you speak. The pause helps you respond instead of reacting. You can also say, “I don’t think I know enough on this topic,” instead of forcing yourself to speak without knowledge.
- Now on to the third tip, listen and listen carefully. A significant part of effective and thoughtful communication is listening. If you listen to others intently, you’ll be able to converse better and also partake in conversations without saying something awkward.
To give you an example, once at a social gathering, I was talking to a bunch of vegans. One of them probably mentioned that they do not think it’s okay to eat animal products, but I was busy using my phone and misunderstood because Ied didn’t listen properly and blurted out “Of course, non-vegetarian food is great.” And went on to talk about non-vegetarian food. I didn’t realize right away but it got awkward pretty quickly. So, it’s better to just listen and avoid such a blunder. Make sure you listen with your ears open if you’d like to think before you speak. We’ve talked more about how to listen in this blog that you can check out!
How to get into the habit of thinking before I speak?
One way of honing this habit is to have practice conversations with friends or peers about some impromptu topics. This will challenge you to think on the spot and you can then think before you give each response. First, start by taking as much time as you need and measure each response time. After a while, you can start running an actual or mental timer of a few seconds to think of a proper response before the time runs out. This will not only help you practice how to think before you speak but will also help you hone the skill of quick thinking on the spot. Such skills are very helpful in personal and professional situations in which you are required to think on the spot and showcase your intelligence or responsiveness. There are other ways to become a better quick thinker as discussed below.
Becoming A Quick Thinker
The sure-shot way of mastering thinking before speaking is becoming a quick thinker and improving your responses over time. Becoming a quick thinker makes your impression on people around you better and helps you perform well in unpredictable situations when you are required to speak. Many times you might have come across situations in your personal and professional life where you had to think on your feet but you could not come up with a proper response because you spent too much time thinking before you speak. Here are a few tips on how you can tackle such situations better:
1. Note down some responses you would like to give in these situations in the future.
2. Plan some generic positive remarks, comments, or stories you can use when asked to speak up without notice.
3. Think of some questions you can ask to change the conversation topic or deflect the conversation to another person
These handy tips can help you go a long way in saving time when thinking before speaking and make you come off as intelligent and quick but still thoughtful.
| The Ultimate Think Before You Speak Cheat-Sheet |
| The THINK before you speak acronym |
| Using your Mental Pause |
| Listening properly before speaking |
| Improving your quick thinking skills |
So, I’m sure you understand how important it is for you and humans, in general, to think before we speak. It’s a life skill that can help us grab opportunities and excel professionally and personally. Refer to the above table to get a quick glance at everything we’ve discussed and worked on your mental pause. I hope that I could help you with some useful tips! If you want to learn tips on how to practice public speaking, click here.
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Remember, whenever you tried to babble out something upsetting or useless, a wise adult would advise “think before you speak”?
Well, you are not alone. We all have been there.
In fact, whenever we hear someone spontaneously speaking out of context, the first thought that emerges in our mind is that this guy does not use his brain.
And that necessarily means that this person does not think before speaking. Such a lack of processing thoughts and ideas is pretty widespread.
And there seems no stopping to it.
Anyways, let’s get to the point. Thinking and thinking well is a social skill that is easily achievable and often leads to a successful life and meaningful relationships.
So, what’s thinking before speaking is all about and who coined this term?
The Founder of “Think Before You Speak” Phrase
Fran Lebowitz, an American author, was the first to coin the quote, “think before you speak, read before you speak.”
He argued that it is crucial to consider what words you utter because they underline the way you think and reinforce them. Your words decide how other people might feel about you and themselves.
Usage of wise words can really save you from hot water situations in the long run!
Let’s see how.
“When I get ready to talk to people, I spend two thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one third thinking about what I want to say.”
——Abraham Lincoln
Why Should We Think Before Speaking?
1. The Consequences
Do we really think before we speak? Unfortunately, most of us don’t. Often, we talk about something inappropriately in haste to which we don’t give enough thought.
This can lead to unpleasant consequences. While it is essential to plan our utterances to sound literate and knowledgeable, it is also essential to develop this healthy habit to avoid conflict in relationships and activities of daily living.
2. Effective Communication
Your words matter. It could bring dramatic changes in critical situations. How you choose to convey has a significant impact on the results.
If you were at work and are appreciated for a project you did but in a sarcastic tone by a colleague, how would you take that? Unpleasantly right because it sounds as if you didn’t rightfully deserve it.
In many situations, we only have words as a token of gratitude or as a means of communication to express ourselves. Thus you need to learn well how to effectively communicate to maintain stable relationships and to develop concrete social interactions.
3. To Avoid Regrets and Negativity
Remember sending an angry text message to someone, but when your temper cooled down a little, you regretted it? That’s how important think before you speak is!
Often, we are so caught up in time that we hardly have time for some self-reflection. So much so that what we are mindlessly just writing and speaking our opinions to grab attention.
We want to be the first responders to every question asked, and that’s what leads us to say things that don’t fit in. Either we end up giving baseless opinions or fume a fire, which can be hurtful to other people.
Think about the last time you spoke without thinking to a loved one. Did it bring negativity to your relationship? Was it easy to let go?
Similarly, the people we are in contact with every day don’t analyze their thoughts thoroughly and just blurt out insensitively. This can be both regretful and hurtful.
4. You Are What You Speak
Many of us are influenced by our peers or by the environment we are brought up in. If it is full of negativity and hardships, we are bound to emit that through our speech in some way or the other. But luckily we can over-come that.
You see, our subconscious reiterates what we say and shapes our thoughts accordingly. The way we want to perceive this world has an impact on our words and vice versa.
Remember, it doesn’t take long to make a negative aspect of yourself and the world. Therefore it is always important to think before we speak.
“We fail to say the right words, because we choose to say the wrong words! We choose to say the wrong words, because we fail to think about the right words!”
—— Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
5. Is What You are Speaking the Actual Depiction of the Picture?
Major miss-communications lead to miss-conceptions. Sometimes it is because of laziness, or we just don’t think before we speak and end up generalizing everything.
The “referential index” is what we are missing in our communication. Ever been in a group where you made all the efforts but weren’t vocal about it, so the credit went to someone else?
That’s where the problem lies. This is where conflicts and issues arise. Thus it is imperative to label a specific person or a thing correctly and with full proof of authenticity before painting a picture about a situation. You need to take time to think and be crystal clear about your thoughts before expressing them.
6. Opportunities Knocking
The best gift you can get of thinking before you speak is getting opportunities and getting ahead in life.
We all have been to job interviews where we spoke without thinking because we were too nervous, which lead to losing the job opportunity. Many times, the results of our actions depend on the word we have put it. It is your call on how you grab attention to get that opportunity!
How to Think Before You Speak?
1. Locate Your Pause Button
You are in control of your thought process and your tongue, so naturally what you say is under your control. If you have been a victim of negativity in the way you perceive the world and want to change it, you need to start paying attention to what you say.
Cut down on the habit of saying things spontaneously, so practicing on closing your mouth at the right time and keeping it shut is the nail you need to hit. Give yourself some time to.
2. Practice Saying What You Mean.
You need to pick the correct words to express how you feel. Stop and think before you talk. It is easy to yak recklessly, but you could be hurting a person, although you didn’t mean to rude.
Instead of being sorry for what you said later, try to bring a change in your behavior. Pick your words wisely. Prepare before speaking, and your words should be such that you can stand behind them confidently rather than being ashamed.
3. Tape It!
We all have a lot to say in every situation, but the world needs words of power rather than words of non-sense. Before uttering an opinion, ask yourself these three questions.
Are my words authentic?
Are my words kind enough?
Do they need my opinion right now?
If the answer to the preceding question is a yes, you can express your say in a matter, but if not, you need to tape it! Empty vessels make the most noise, and I am sure you don’t want to be spotted as foolish now, do you?
4. Liberally Praising
Making compliments a part of your life is your next mantra. Who doesn’t like hearing words of appreciation? A large part of think before you speak is the usage of kind words.
Words like “thank you,” “that’s so kind of you,” “you look great” don’t only encourage another person but brings a sense of positivity in yourself. This quality is often found in effective leaders.
You will love the effect it has on your life; not only will you feel like a new person, but the liberal praising rebounds in your life. Honest thoughts and opinions hold great value in life.
5. Affirming to What the Other Person Is Saying
When you listen carefully, you have more time to process and answer or advise effectively. You need to make the other person feel important and show that you care about what they are saying.
How do you make that work with your own words? Give the other person space to express their opinion. While conversing, use words like “oh really,” “then what happened?” Make the other person feel like you are a good listener, as this will enhance your communication skills.
Conclusion
If you dream of being a leader, then you need to start learning the traits. Learn to accept failures; it is part of a growth mindset. You must indulge in the desire to learn even if you need to enter unchartered water at any point in your life. Figure out when and how to delegate, self-centeredness is not a healthy habit. Always speak calmly, try not to let the situation slip out of your hands.
Once you start controlling your tongue, you will see your life flip!
| August 24, 2021 | Inspirational Quotes |
Looking for wise quotes about thinking before you speak? We have rounded up the best collection of think before you speak quotes, sayings, proverbs, captions for Instagram, status messages, (with images, memes, pictures) to inspire you to be patient and act/speak after thinking.
Also See: Street Smart Quotes
Sometimes in impulse or in anger we all tend to say things which are rude, unwanted, insulting or hurting to others. And words are powerful. They leave an impact on people. So these inspirational quotes will make you think to choose your words wisely and see whether it leaves a smile or a scar on people’s mind.
Think Before You Speak Quotes
- “Think then talk.”
Think Before You Speak Quotes
- “Sometimes it’s better not to react.”
- “Words are powerful, speak wisely.”
- “Some things are better left unsaid.”
- “Open your mind before your mouth.”
think before you say quotes
- “Watch what you say when you’re angry.”
- “Think before you speak, words can hurt.”
Think Before You Speak Quotes Images
- “Your words have power, use them wisely.”
- “If you don’t think, then you shouldn’t talk.”
- “If only closed minds came with closed mouths.”
Funny Think Before You Speak Quotes
- “Sometimes certain things are better left unsaid.”
- “No one forces you to say things you don’t mean.”
- “The less people think the more they talk.” – Proverb
- “Think before you act. Think twice before you speak.”
think twice before you speak quotes
- “Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out.”
- “Actions speak louder than words.” – Becca Fitzpatrick
- “Words scar more than you think. Think before you speak.”
Famous Think Before You Speak Quotes
- “Men of few words are the best men.” – William Shakespeare
- “The wise person has long ears and a short tongue.” – Proverb
- “Speak only if it improves upon the silence.”- Mahatma Gandhi
- “To talk without thinking is to shoot without aiming.” – Proverb
- “Think before you speak. Read before you think.”- Fran Lebowitz
- “It’s often not what you say, but how you say it that matters most.”
- “Speak only when your words are more beautiful than the silence.”
- “If you’re about to talk about someone’s faults, speak of yours first.”
- “We still need a voice that thinks before it speaks.”- Simon Armitage
- “Anything you say can be used against you. Think before you speak.”
- “Before engaging your mouth, first ensure that your brain is in gear.”
Think Before You Speak Quotes Pictures
- “The brain is placed superior to the mouth. Think before you speak.”
- “Life isn’t about just talking, it’s about thinking too.” – Marie Symeou
- “The tongue weighs practically nothing, but so few people can hold it.”
- “Anger is an emotion that makes your mouth work faster than your brain.”
- “There are some who speak one moment before they think.”- Jean de la Bruyere
- “If you think before you speak the other guy gets his joke in first.” – Jimmy Nail
- “Think before you speak, and don’t say everything you think.”- Alexander Lebed
- “Keep your words soft and tender because tomorrow you may have to eat them.”
- “Knowledge is knowing what to say, wisdom is knowing whether or not to say it.”
- “He who knows little knows enough if he knows how to hold is tongue.” – Proverb
- “A smart person knows what to say, a wise person knows whether to say it or not.”
- “Before you say something, stop and think how you’d feel if someone said it to you.”
- “Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said.”- Voltaire
- “You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.”- John Ford
- “Sometimes I wish I could rewind time, and say something different in that moment.”
- “The words you utter should always be cautious and respectful.”- Anurag Prakash Ray
- “A woman who is careful with her words is a gift to all who know her.”- Lysa TerKeurst
- “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do.” – James 3:5 (TLB)
- “Sometimes not speaking says more than all the words in the world.” – Colleen Hoover
- “Analyze before you finalize in short; connect your mouth to the brain before you talk.”
- “A moment of patience in a moment of anger saves you a thousand moments of regret.”
- “Be careful with your words. Once they are said they can only be forgiven not forgotten.”
- “Choose your words wisely, put your brain in gear, before you put your mouth in action.”
- “THINK before you speak. Is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind?”- Alan Redpath
- “Genius might be the ability to say a profound thing in a simple way.” – Charles Bukowski
- “Words spoken can not be recalled so think twice before you speak.”- William Shakespeare
- “By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach.”- Winston Churchill
- “Think before you speak is criticism’s motto; speak before you think, creation’s.”- E. M. Forster
- “Always speak the truth, think before you speak, and write it down afterwards.” – Lewis Carroll
- “Every time you speak right, you are training yourself to think right and act right.”- T. B. Joshua
- “The most important step in developing skillful speech is to think before speaking.”- Allan Lokos
- “Your word is your wand. The words you speak create your own destiny.” – Florence Scovel Shinn
- “The tongue has no bones, but it is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words.”
- “Know when to speak your mind and when to let others put their foot in their mouth.”- Mark Hook
- “Be careful of the words you speak. It may be just words but sometimes it also hurts.”- Mhaj Porras
- “A fool is made more of a fool, when their mouth is more open than their mind.” – Anthony Liccione
- “Light travels faster than sound. That is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.”
- “Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.”- Ambrose Bierce
- “Really think about your words before you speak. They can mean different things to different people.”
- “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.”- Abraham Lincoln
- “Think before you speak a word of wisdom. Ponder before you utter a word of knowledge.”- Analiza Garcia
- “Before you speak – think. T=Is it true? H=Is it helpful? I=Is it inspiring? N=Is it necessary? K=Is it kind?”
- “Think before you speak, your words could hurt someone’s feeling more than you intended it to.”- Justin Bieber
- “My people, you gotta think before you move, you gotta speak before you cry, you gotta live before you die.”- Lil B
- “There are chords in the hearts of the most reckless which cannot be touched without emotion.” – Edgar Allan Poe
- “I don’t like to think before I speak. I like to be just as surprised as everyone else about what come out of my mouth.”
- “Why talk and say the unsaid words in haste when silence can speak the unspoken words?” – Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
- “You are meant to think before you speak, every act should be a spiritual one involving your total being.” – Jack Schwarz
- “Before you talk, listen. Before you react, think. Before you criticize. wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try.”
- “Think before you speak, think before you judge, think before you think you have a person all figured out.” – Lily Collins
- “Think before you speak. In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to say something you’ll later regret.”- Dr Anil Kumar Sinha
- “People need to learn that their actions do affect other people. So be careful what you say and do, it’s not always just about you.”
- “The person who says he knows what he thinks but cannot express it usually does not know what he thinks.”- Mortimer Adler
- “Think before you speak because, your words can hurt a person and you may loose that person in your life.” – Prameela Dsouza
- “We’ve all been hurt by words before. So before you speak, think about how your words might affect someone else.”- Naya Rivera
- “Be careful what you say. You can say something hurtful in ten seconds, but ten years later, the wounds are still there.”- Joel Osteen
- “A sharp tongue like a sharp knife can slice the best of relationships. Remember, you can change your world by changing your words.”
- “It is only the young and callow and ignorant that admire rashness. Think before you speak. Know your subject.”- Cass Gilbert
- “Drum sound rises on the air, its throb, my heart. A voice inside the beat says, I know you’re tired, but come. This is the way.” – Rumi
- “Think before you speak. Spend less than what you make. And whatever happens, try to make the best of what’s going on.”- Mike Leonard
- “I believe that words are strong, that they can overwhelm what we fear when fear seems more awful than life is good.” – Andrew Solomon
- “Let nothing be said about anyone unless it passes through the three sieves: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?”- Amy Carmichael
- “Think twice before you speak, and then you may be able to say something more insulting than if you spoke right out at once.”- Evan Esar
- “I think that sometimes people don’t think before they speak. And even a small comment can make or break someone’s day.”- Lexi Ainsworth
- “Think before you speak, own what you say… and remember, words are weapons. They can hit hard and they can cut deep.” – Dana Stoner-Blech
- “Think before you speak, read before you think. This will give you something to think about that you didn’t make up yourself.” – Fran Lebowitz
- “Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.”- Napoleon Hill
- “Choose your words wisely, and be sure that everything that you say or do can be used for construction rather than destruction.”- Anurag Prakash Ray
- “Never speak from a place of hate, jealousy, anger, or insecurity. Evaluate your words before you let them leave your lips. Sometimes it’s best to be quiet.”
- “The tongues of conscience need a conscience of their own to keep them from speaking before they know what they are talking about.” – Henry S. Haskins
- “Our words have creative power. With our words, we can speak blessings over our future or we can speak negative things over our future.”- Joel Osteen
- “When you learn to discipline your tongue, you’ll stop scrutinizing, judging and condemning others. You’ll then focus on your own weaknesses.”- Mufti Ismail Menk
- “There is a difference between speaking the truth in love and judging someone hypocritically… make sure you know the difference before you speak!” – Pauline Seaport
- “When I get ready to talk to people, I spend two thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one third thinking about what I want to say.”- Abraham Lincoln
- “The power to see change in your life can be found in the words you speak. You have the power to set the destiny for your life by what comes out of your mouth.”- Joel Osteen
- “Words travel far more than we can ever reach across hearts and live longer than we can ever live on earth and as such, should be spoken with a lot of goodness in them.”- Terry Mark
- “No one can take less pains than to hold his tongue. Hear much, and speak little; for the tongue is the instrument of the greatest good and greatest evil that is done in the world.” – Walter Raleigh
- “Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.”- William Arthur Ward
- “Social media provides us the opportunity to think before we ‘speak’, giving us a better shot at reasoned dialog. So it’s not a huge surprise to me that not only can real communication happen, but real relationships can blossom.” – Paul Biedermann
- “You are meant to think before you speak. How many times is your heart involved in what you are doing? Every act should be a spiritual one involving your total being – soul, mind and body – done for the sake of the doing, given for the sake of the giving, worked for the sake of the working, not for the sake of what you can get out of it. The more you do this, uniting all the aspects of your being, the more you will create harmony, balance and peace.”- Jack Schwarz
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If we have missed some quotes, share it with us in the comment section below and we shall be happy to add it to the list
About The Author
Ananya Bhatt
I am Ananya, a professional speaker and I love motivating people and inspiring them to pursue their dreams. Sharing quotes, proverbs, and sayings of great authors to touch people’s lives to make it better.
Speaking before you think is a bad habit that can get you into trouble and hurt you in the most important areas of your life. Relationships will suffer or end, your career will be stalled at a level far below your talents, and most importantly, you will have little confidence in yourself.
Your speech shapes your life. Time and again you find yourself in situations where the outcome depends on what you say and how you say it. Your words are a reflection of who you are. If your words are getting you into trouble, you’re showing others the very worst parts of you. You’re presenting yourself as being thoughtless, careless or just plain hurtful.
Not only do your words create a positive or negative reaction in the world around you; your speech influences your thinking and can alter the course of your future. Your words are a way of underlining your thoughts and reinforcing them. When your words are harsh, negative, inconsiderate, or judgmental then these are the aspects of your experience that are emphasized. It won’t be long before you have developed the habit of always focusing your thoughts on the darker side of life. You know what kind of a person this will turn you into – a miserable, depressing and mean spirited person who sees only the bad and not the good in others or in life.
If you speak before you think about what you’re going to say, you do not take the time to consider what words you will use, what these words will mean to another person, or how they will feel about what you’re saying. You are also not thinking about what these words say about you as a person or about all of the good things you may be neglecting to focus on.
To break the habit of speaking without thinking you first have to accept the fact that it is up to you to control your tongue. You are responsible for what comes out of your mouth.
Next, you have to diligently practice closing your mouth as soon as you open it. I’m not kidding. If you have this problem it means that you are reacting to the people and situations around you by opening your mouth and talking. You are not reacting by thinking. When you close your mouth, you are breaking the pattern or habit and taking control. You are giving yourself time to consciously CHOOSE what you want to say.
The third step is to say what you really mean. This is critical and you have to ask yourself if you are truly willing to do this. It’s easy to blurt something out and then say, “Oh, I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking”. By then the damage is done. What you are really saying is that you are too lazy to put in the effort to pay attention to your words. Saying you are sorry only has meaning if you subsequently change your behavior. Ask yourself if you are prepared to think before you speak, to say what you mean, to stand behind your words, and to take responsibility for them.
Here are some other ideas for putting power into your speech and staying out of trouble.
Don’t talk too much. Excessive needless talking is usually a sign of nervousness or stupidity. Before you say something, ask yourself, “Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” Speak only if the answer to these three questions is YES.
Avoid talking about bad, unpleasant, destructive subjects. Most of this is just a form of gossip whether you are talking about your friends or world events. Instead, talk about the good things you’ve seen or want to experience. If you do have to mention something unpleasant, use tact and gentleness, find something positive to say to offset the negative, and be brief.
Praise liberally. Sincere compliments, thanks, and other appreciative words are always welcome. Note the word “sincere”. The habit of giving honest praise not only will win you friendship and love, it will train you to look for the good around you. You’ll be amazed at how this rebounds in your life. The more genuine praise you give, the more positively people will respond to you, the more confidence you’ll feel, and the more successful you’ll be in your life.
Finally, speak calmly and as much as possible, avoid angry words. Angry words create enemies, drain your energy, and make you ill.
There is a saying that the tongue is a good servant but a terrible master. Put effort into controlling your words and it will change your life.
Shirley Vandersteen, Ph. D., R. Psych.
Consulting Psychologist
Read the following think before you speak quotes and you will see how your life can change.
We often end up using coarse words, be it to emphasize something or express strong attitudes, without intending to do any harm, but such expressions in absence of cues to the idea behind it, may be considered offensive. Hence, weighing and structuring words is of utmost significance.
Under present social conditions, with the continuous increment in hate speech, be it targeted on grounds of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or religion, these ‘think twice before you speak quotes’ are a pathfinder for all people to get better. People often speak very comfortably and impulsively without realizing if certain words or the way we use them have an inherent negative meaning attached to them. If such a case causes a miscommunication then it may lead to disastrous consequences. so, thinking before speaking is a necessity for people to get better at day-to-day communication.
The Fran Lebowitz quote, «think before you speak…read before you speak», sums up the need of our age in regards to the think before you speak quote. The continuous negativity in speech has ended up subjecting humankind to a vicious toxic circle, one that cannot be done away with until we speak consciously and think before we speak. The quote about thinking before you speak can help you in tough situations. If you like this article, take a look at our think outside the box quotes and [thought-provoking quotes].
Famous Quotes About Thinking Before You Speak
These think first before you speak quotes emphasize on the importance of measured speech and portray how insidious the effects can be by using certain words . While free speech is a choice, hate speech is an offense. And, while we cannot measure our thoughts, we surely can measure our words.
1. «Think before you speak is criticism’s motto; speak before you think, creation’s [motto].»
— E. M. Forster.
2. «The person who says he knows what he thinks but cannot express it usually does not know what he thinks.»
— Mortimer Adler.
3. «Half of the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon enough.»
— Josh Billings.
4. «It is only the young and callow and ignorant that admire rashness. Think before you speak. Know your subject.»
— Cass Gilbert.
5. «You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart.»
— John Ford.
6. «Every time you speak right, you are training yourself to think right and act right.»
— T. B. Joshua.
7. «Think before you speak, and don’t say everything you think.»
— Alexander Lebed.
8. «Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.»
— Abraham Lincoln.
9. «By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach.»
— Winston Churchill.
10. «Speak only if it improves upon the silence.»
— Mahatma Gandhi.
11. «When I get ready to talk to people, I spend two thirds of the time thinking what they want to hear and one third thinking about what I want to say.»
— Abraham Lincoln.
12. «Think before you speak. Read before you think.»
— Fran Lebowitz.
13. «Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.»
— Ambrose Bierce.
14. «Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn…before you criticize, wait.»
— William Arthur Ward.
15. «Let nothing be said about anyone unless it passes through the three sieves: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?»
— Amy Carmichael.
16. «Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said.»
— Voltaire.
Quotes On The Power Of Words
While words have the miraculous power to heal, they also have the power to topple the world. We live and breathe in words. Sometimes words make us smile, sometimes they make us cry, sometimes they pierce through us to an extent that we wish to end it all. Now, herein lies the question. When should we speak and what should we say? Well, the answer lies in our thought itself. So think and let these think before you speak quotes make you reflect on the words you use and help you weigh your words before you speak.
17. «Thinking doesn’t hurt…words do. Words have power to heal. Words have power to kill.»
— Anna Maledon.
18. «We fail to say the right words, because we choose to say the wrong words! We choose to say the wrong words, because we fail to think of the right words!»
— Ernest Agyemang Yeboah.
19. «You are master of what you say until you utter it, once you deliver it, you are its captive. Preserve your tongue as you do your gold and money. One word could bring disgrace and the termination of a bliss.»
— Ali Ibn Abi Talib A.S.
20. «Our words have creative power. With our words, we can speak blessings over our future or we can speak negative things over our future.»
— Joel Osteen.
21. «Your word is your wand. The words you speak create your own destiny.»
— Florence Scovel Shinn.
22. «Think twice before you speak, because your words and influence will plant the seed of either success or failure in the mind of another.»
— Napoleon Hill.
23. «Think before you speak, your words could hurt someone’s feeling more than you intended it to.»
— Justin Bieber.
Think Before You Speak Quotes That Will Change Your Life
These think before you speak quotes will move you and impact your vision on life, if not change it completely. In our day to day life, some people may find some words offensive while others may not find them to be so. But, the idea is to find out how and when to use words in the appropriate context. For that contemplation plays a vital role in our life. So, read out and think more.
24. «A person with a short neck shot word without measure them out, and a person with a long neck weigh their words before they shout word out!»
— Beta Metani’Marashi.
25. «The real power of silence is to keep silent. The real power of silence is in the works of silence!»,
— Ernest Agyemang Yeboah.
26. «Keep quiet and ponder! Speak and say something!»
— Ernest Agyemang Yeboah.
27. «I always think before I speak. I always think «I think I’ll speak now.»
— John Alejandro King a.k.a. The Covert Comic.
Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for think before you speak quotes then why not take a look at [Wednesday quotes], or [weekend quotes].
It is rightly said that a tongue cuts deeper than the sword. The words once said leave a lasting impact. A person who compliments others and makes them happy with their jokes automatically becomes everyone’s favorite, but someone who always says bad words to others and always frowns and passes bad comments always will never be liked or appreciated by others. The words which once leave your mouth are like arrows that leave the bow. They cannot be brought back or reversed or stopped. Their wounds cannot be healed. No matter how much you apologize after, nothing can undo the pain and the hurt your words might do to someone they are directed.
Some people say a lot of bad things when they are angry or in the heat of the moment, and then when they cool down, they regret their decisions, but the damage has already been done, and they will never be able to reverse the words they said or the damage they did. Maybe the person forgives them, but at the back of his mind, he may never forget, and this might lead to fights and repeated abusive behavior. We must understand that our words can sometimes hurt other people badly.
We must know what we are saying and always put a filter on our mouth because we don’t know when we might press a button that might hurt the other person or trigger something which might be a soft topic for them.
To know more about this here, we listed think before you speak quotes and sayings once go through it.
01
“Choose your words wisely; put your brain in gear, before you put mouth in action.”
02
“Think, before you speak.
T is it true?
H is it helpful?
I is it inspiring?
N is it necessary?
K is it kind?
03
“Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out.”
04
“I think that sometimes people don’t think before they speak. And even a small comment can make or break someone’s day.” – Lexi Ainsworth
05
“Before you say something, stop and think how you’d feel if someone said it to you.”
06
“Open your mind before you open your mouth.”
07
“Sometimes, I don’t like to think before I speak. I like to be just as surprised as everyone else about what come out of my mouth.”
08
“Before you decide to speak and say something that may hurt someone, just take a second to think how you would feel if it were said to you.”
09
“You only get to live life once, so make smart choices, overuse I love you, & think before you speak sometimes the bridges you burn today you may need tomorrow.”
10
“Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten.”
11
“Think before you speak. Read before you think.” – Fran Lebowitz
12
“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” – Ambrose Bierce
13
“THINK before you speak. Is it True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind?” – Alan Redpath
14
“Think before you speak, and don’t say everything you think.” – Alexander Lebed
15
“A smart person knows what to say, a wise person knows whether to stay it or not.”
16
“Remember your words can plant gardens or burn forests down.”
17
“To talk without thinking is to shoot without aiming.”
18
“The tongue weighs practically nothing, but so few people can hold it.”
19
“If you think before you speak the other guy gets his joke in first.” – Jimmy Nail
20
“Think before you speak, your words could hurt someone’s feelings more than you intended them to.” – Justin Bieber
21
“You are meant to think before you speak, every act should be a spiritual one involving your total being.” – Jack Schwarz
22
“Think before you speak. In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to say something you’ll later regret.”- Dr Anil Kumar Sinha
23
“Think before you speak, own what you say… and remember, words are weapons. They can hit hard and they can cut deep.” – Dana Stoner-Blech
24
“Think once before you act, twice before you speak, and three times before you post on social media.”
25
“Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said.” – Voltaire
26
“Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out.”
27
“Think before you act; Think twice before you speak.” – Thomas Browne
28
“The words you utter should always be cautious and respectful.” – Anurag Prakash Ray
29
“It is only the young and callow and ignorant that admire rashness. Think before you speak. Know your subject.” – Cass Gilbert
30
“The tongue has no bones, but it is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words.”
31
“Go a little easy on the people around you. Try to reel in judging thoughts. Think before you speak.” – John Manning
32
“Think before you speak. Your own words can cure or curse you. The power in your tongue can spill blessings or lessons.” – Bianca McCormick-Johnson
33
“Words spoken cannot be recalled so think twice before you speak.” — William Shakespeare
34
“Think before you speak. Think before you judge. Think before you think you have a person all figured out.” — Lily Collins
35
“Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?”
36
“If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to get to the good stuff, you need to slow down.” – Laurie Helgoe
37
“Sometimes, I think the words you stop yourself from saying are the ones that will haunt you the longest.” – Taylor Swift
38
“If I offered you $100,000 to jump out of a plane without a parachute, would you do it? I bet you said NO! But, what if I told you, the plane was on the ground? Moral of the story: Know all the facts before you open your mouth.”
39
“One matchstick has the power to burn thousands of trees. Likewise, one word has the power to destroy any true relationship. So, use your words wisely.”
40
“Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.” – William Arthur Ward
41
“Why talk and say the unsaid words in haste when silence can speak the unspoken words?” – Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
42
“Students, when you want to say something, think about it three times before you say it. Speak only if your words will benefit yourselves and others. Do not speak if it brings no benefit.” — Dōgen
43
“Think before you speak a word of wisdom. Ponder before you utter a word of knowledge.”- Analiza Garcia
44
“Always speak the truth, think before you speak, and write it down afterwards.” – Lewis Carroll
45
“Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths.”
46
“The brain is placed superior to the mouth. Think before you speak.”
47
“Think before you speak, words can hurt.”
48
“Think before you speak because, your words can hurt a person and you may loose that person in your life.” – Prameela Dsouza
49
“Sometimes I wish I could rewind time, and say something different in that moment.”
50
“Anything you say can be used against you. Think before you speak.”
51
“The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do.” – James 3:5
52
“The wise person has long ears and a short tongue.” – Proverb
53
“Think then talk.”
54
“No one can take less pains than to hold his tongue. Hear much, and speak little; for the tongue is the instrument of the greatest good and greatest evil that is done in the world.” – Walter Raleigh
55
“Speak with honesty, think with sincerity, act with integrity.”
56
“Keep your words soft and tender because tomorrow you may have to eat them.”
57
“Before speaking, consult your inner-truth barometer, and resist the temptation to tell people only what they want to hear.” – Wayne Dyer
58
“Learn how to Keep Your Mouth Shut and not say things you’ll regret. This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.” – Senora Roy
59
“Think before you speak, unless it’s urgent.” – Benny Bellamacina
60
“If you think twice before speaking once, you will speak twice the better for it.” – William Penn
Think Acronym – Before you speak … THINK! (An Acronym for the word Think)
Yes Before you speak … Think!
Too often we speak before thinking. Once we spoken the words we said, we cannot unspeak them or take them back. Words to hurt, unlike the old song sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Well, that is wrong, words too often do hurt us. It can cause us anxiety and much more when ill words are spoken to us.
So before you say words out of the heat of the moment, stop and THINK!
I also share some Biblical things on the tongue and speaking too.
THINK Acronym
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T – is s true?
H – is it helpful?
I – is it inspiring?
N – is it necessary?
K – is it kind?
Remember once we say what we say we cannot take it back. We can only seek forgiveness. The tongue is a powerful part of our body. It can also afflict the most damage. Check out these verses. The New King James has the word Tongue 150 times.
Before you speak … THINK! (An Acronym for the work Think) #Think Click To Tweet
James 3:6
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
James 3:8
But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
You need to read the whole context in these two above verses in James 3:1-12.
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Be careful little tongue what you say. The acronym is true, we must think before we speak out load. Make sure what we say is true, helpful, inspiring, necessary and kind. Make sure it is Biblically correct. Remember when we teach and share the Gospel we are held accountable for what we share or don’t share about the Gospel.
Check out 20 Reasons When To Keep Your Mouth Shut!
This can also go for social media ….
Before you post … Think!
Before you post … THINK! (An Acronym for the work Think) #Think Click To Tweet
First published April 30, 2015. Last republished or updated February 18, 2021.
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About the Author
Steve Patterson
A Christian Blogger that enjoys blogging about the Bible, Theology, God, Jesus Christ, Christian Music, Family, Cats, Odd Holidays, sewing and much more. I have been blogging since 2004, however, I have been blogging on Courageous Christian Father since 2012. I enjoy listening to Christian Music. I am married with 1 daughter, 2 step-sons and a step daughter.