Least Said, Soonest Mended

Words are at the bottom of most quarrels, fights and misunderstandings. One man says one thing; another says another and the quarrel starts. Words on one side are followed by more words on the other and the result is deep misunderstanding between two persons or between two groups. Ordinarily, children exchange hot words, but they forget easily. Grown ups on the other hand brood over the remarks of the other persons for a long time. Tolstoy tells us the story of some children who suddenly began t o quarrel amongst themselves. The parents entered into the fray. The children soon forgot their quarrels and began to play again; but the parents continued the quarrel amongst themselves for weeks.

There is a way out in situations of this kind. When the quarrel flares up, if one of the parties recollects himself and suddenly keeps quiet, the other party’s range is unable to increase. Thus reconciliation becomes easier. If the other party also recollects himself similarly, then the quarrel will be mended easily. If both the parties go on discussing the matter, the quarrel will become worse. When two hands clap on the then there is sound, which a single hand cannot do.