Mobile VersionBlessing Ten:
Artfulness in Speech
D. ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES
D.1 Metaphor: A fish lives & dies because of its mouth
A fish can have long life dependant on its mouth which it uses to feed. However, because the selfsame mouth and its greed for bait, it swallows the hook which brings its life to an end. In the same way, if we use our mouth for artful speech, it can bring us success and prosperity in life, but sometimes even a word of unwholesome speech from the same mouth can cost us our lives.
D.2 Metaphor: It does not just know the right thing to say
A smart person is not a person who knows when to say the right thing — they must also know when to keep their silence. A knowledge of the things not to be said is more important for an artful speaker, even more than a knowledge of the things to be said.
D.3 Ex.: Condemned man who said too much
The less you say, the less risk you run of saying something foolish, even dangerous. In 1825 a new czar, Nicholas I, ascended the throne of Russia. A rebellion immediately broke out, led by liberals demanding that the country modernize — that its industries and civil structures catch up with the rest of Europe. Brutally crushing the rebellion (the Decembrist Uprising), Nicholas I sentenced one of its leaders, Kondraty Ryleyev, to death. On the day of the execution Ryleyev stood on the gallows, the noose round his neck. The trap-door opened — but as Ryleyev dangled, the rope broke, dashing him to the ground. At the time, events like this were considered signs of providence or heavenly will, and a man saved from execution this way was usually pardoned. As Ryleyev got to his feet, bruised and dirtied but believing his neck had been saved, he called out to the crowd, “You see, in Russia they don’t know how to do anything properly, not even how to make a rope!” A messenger immediately went to the Winter Palace with news of the failed hanging. Vexed by this disappointing turnabout, Nicholas I nevertheless began to sign the pardon. But then: “Did Ryleyev say anything after this miracle?” the czar asked the messenger. “Sire,” the messenger replied, “he said that in Russia they don’t even know how to make a rope!” “In that case,” said the Czar, “let us prove the contrary,” and he tore up the pardon. The next day Ryleyev was hanged again. This time the rope did not break. Morale: Once the words are out, you cannot take them back. Keep them under control. Be particularly careful with sarcasm: The momentary satisfaction you gain with biting words will be outweighed by the price you pay.
D.4 Ex. Nandivisāla Jātaka (J.28)
A tale which has become most famous as one of Aesop’s Tales, in fact originates from the Jātaka Tale of Nantivisāla, the ox which pulled 100 carts for a wager. This young ox was miraculously strong ever since it was born and so the owner had the ox pull 100 carts. When he found that the ox could pull the carts, the owner made the ox’s ability subject to a wager to a millionaire who didn’t believe it. However, when it came to the time to prove the bet, the master said, ‘Go ahead and pull the carts, ox!’ Because the ox didn’t like the direct language it refused to move. Even oxen have feelings. Thus the owner lost the bet. Later the owner made a second bet, spoke politely to the ox and won the wager making a profit.
D.5 Ex. Maṃsa Jātaka (J.315)
There were once four sons of a millionaire who wanted to compare their skills of persuasion and competed with each other in asking for meat from the cart of a butcher. When the four brothers saw the butcher’s cart they thought to themselves that they would like to eat some meat and they decided to see who could persuade the butcher to give them some meat.
The first son shouted out to the butcher, “Hey butcher! Bring me some meat!” The butcher was a kindly man and he said “Of course but because your words are not sweet to my ears” he threw the boy some trotters. Everybody asked him why he gave the boy trotters and he replied that trotters are tough and have no taste just like the words of the one who had requested them.
The second son said, “My brother! Please give me some of your meat to eat.” Because the second son had had the respect to call him his brother then he cut off some choice meat to give to him.
The third son said, “Oh my father! Please give me some of your meat to eat.” Because the third son had had the respect to call him his father he cut the heart out of an ox to give to him.
The fourth son said, “My friend! Please give me some of your meat to eat.” The butcher heard his words and felt pleased. He said that when our ages are so similar like this, it is closest to the truth to say that we are friends. To call me ‘father’ is too much. To call me ‘friend’ is the most appropriate. So with those words he gave the whole of his cart to the fourth son. The fourth son was true to his word and took the butcher to his house. He said if you have this much generosity to me then I will be generous to you too — come and live here if you like — I have a reasonable amount of wealth to my name therefore if any of your friends are in distress just tell me and I will help. Well, it turned out that the butcher had a few unpaid debts so he was able to pay all those off. The fourth son was a friend to the butcher for the rest of his life.
This is the benefit accrued to the fourth son who didn’t speak harshly, or patronizingly but appropriately to the truth of the situation.
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