Controlling what you say takes a remarkable amount of self-control. It is so easy to get caught up in a moment (a negative one!) and say terrible things to people, even our loved ones. Our feelings have a unique way of clouding our judgment and temporarily controlling our rationale, leading us to justify our actions at the time and later suffer regret and remorse. While it is inevitable that we will occasionally hurt those around us, a majority of these situations can be avoided. If we remember that our words have an amazing ability to affect relationships, and people (including ourselves), we will be more conscious of what we say to others, even in moments of anger, fear, grief, and pain.
There are many moments that come to mind when I read this quote, both where words cost someone and where words withheld saved a relationship from the brink of collapse. It is essential that we take time to response and think about the longterm effects of our words and whether we are willing to let upset over a current event destroy the future of a relationship because we are hurting.
Even if our words do not destroy a relationship, they do leave an imprint on it and those words affect the relationship long after they have said, destabilizing trust and creating distance where there was once none. So let's take the time to think through things before we react, it definitely takes time to implement and master but as many people around us can testify, it is well worth the time and effort as it not only saves us heartache but also makes us better people in the process.