“Sometimes you have to decide which will hurt more: biting your tongue or having your say.”

“Don’t you two dare say a thing,” she pointed a finger at us, straightening her skirt with the other hand. “Just bite your tongues.”“You look great, Lucinda.”“And you’re a liar and should have your mouth washed out with soap,” she tugged on the sleeves of her cardigan. “Nice pearls,” I pointed to her neck.“Didn’t I tell ya’ll to bite yer tongues,” Gram’s southern drawl became more pronounced when she was irritated.”

“Sometimes you have to favor your heel, even if it means you're hurting your toe.”

“I tell you this, and I tell you plainWhat you have done, you will do againYou will bite your tongue, careful or notUpon the already-bitten spot”

“Okay, let's put this another way―if what you're about to say wouldn't look good permanently engraved on your tombstone, bite your tongue.”

“My tongue is a scalding whiplash. I'm tired of hurting others with it, the way they have hurt me. I've always despised the practice, so once more I'll bite my words back, though the injustice served deserves each backlash of every one.”