Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt me.
What a lie.
I think the original intent of that statement was to try to get kids to not let teasing affect them. The truth is though that words hurt.

The more difficult truth is that my words have hurt others.

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

The picture of the tongue that comes to mind is like a poisonous snake. It can inject poison and death where there is life. Have you ever seen words bring death?

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Here’s what is even worse- our words can, and sometimes do bring life. The same tongue that brings so much death can bring life too. How in the world do we keep from bringing death and make sure that our words only bring life?

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. (James 3:8–14)

The way to deal with the tongue is to deal with the heart. God has to change our hearts to change our words. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Are your words bringing death? Ask God to change your heart!