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.