proverb · Legacy record
The mouth of a man is a terrible opening.
The mouth of a man is a terrible opening.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
A human mouth called a terrible opening gives speech a threatening scale. The saying draws attention to what spoken words can unleash.
What the words are saying
The precise traditional context is unverified, so speech and consequence remain a qualified interpretation. A responsible application can consider insults or false claims without condemning all communication. Questions, welcome conversation and reporting harm can be valuable and necessary.
Everyday example
Someone checks a harmful accusation before repeating it while still raising a genuine concern.
When to use it
Use it only as a qualified speech-and-consequence image.
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What it does not mean
No universal harm in speaking or anatomical claim is established.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
Japan
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin.- Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference (2014 AD)
Supplied reference B; unit 394; PDF page 38; collection label: Japan
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- Japan