Words
A broken bone can heal, but the wound a word opens can fester forever. (Jessamyn West, American short story author)
The old saw about rocks breaking bones but words never hurting has long been discarded. Probably every living person has been deeply hurt by intentionally harsh or merely ill-spoken words. The closer to the victim the author of the hurtful expression might be, the deeper the injury. Guarding our thoughts and words is the most loving habit we can develop.
With their words, the godless destroy their friends. (Proverbs 11:9)
[But] Kind words are like honey— sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. (Proverbs 16:24)