Be Careful What You Say

by Charles Carroll Sanger

Source of witness transcribed: The Cambria Freeman (Ebensburg, Pennsylvania)

Date of witness transcribed: 10 October 1873

Notes about this poem: "Be Careful What You Say" was printed in at least 216 newspapers during the nineteenth century. It can be found using ID 1032917 in this table of most widely-reprinted poems.

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• In speaking of a person’s faults
• Pray don’t forget your own;
• Remember, those with homes of glass
• Should seldom throw a stone;
• If we have nothing else to do
• But talk of those who sin,
• ‘Tis better we commence at home,

• And from that point begin.

• We have no right to judge a man,
• Until he’s fairly tried;
• Should we not like his company,
• We know the world is wide;
• Some may have faults—and who have not—
• The old as well as young;
• Perhaps we may, for aught we know,

• Have fifty to their one.

• I’ll tell you of a better plan,
• And find it works full well;
• I try my own defects to cure
• Before of others tell;
• And though I sometimes hope to be
• No worse than some I know,
• My own shortcomings bid me let

• The faults of others go.

• Then let us all, when we commence
• To slander friend or foe,
• Think of the harm one word may do
• To those who little know;
• Remember, curses, sometimes like
• Our chickens, “roost at home;”
• Don’t speak of others’ faults until
• We have none of our own.