The capacity to properly use the faculty of speech differentiates the human being from the animal and elevates him above the animal. After G-d created all the rest of the living species, G-d imbued the human, and only the human, with the ability to speak (Targum Onkelos to Genesis 2:7). Through constructively using speech, man can rise to his unique purpose and potential.

The Vilna Gaon (Alim LeTrufa) writes that the punishment for sinful speech is worse than the punishment for all other sins, including for murder, adultery and idolatry - the three most serious! An evil mouth is worse than the worst! One must refrain at all times from any evil speech such as ridiculing, giving a curse, falsity, arguing, gossip, slander, anything that harms anyone, or making oaths or vows. Silence is like medicine for sinful speech. There is unimaginable pain for even one evil word. Every word one says is recorded in Heaven. Not one word is lost. Even Torah and good deeds cannot offset the damage done by evil speech. One must constantly control one's mouth and one's desires. The main skill that a person should develop in life is the ability to be silent. One's faculty of speech should be cultivated exclusively for speech pertaining to Torah, justice and goodness. Whenever one speaks, one should exclusively speak pleasantly and peacefully, in a friendly and loving manner. It is imperative to always be humble and gentle.

Since evil speech is common and comes quickly and thoughtlessly, many communities have various forms of study groups that deal in the numerous laws of "lashon hora (evil speech)" and in personal growth in speech-related behavior. Join or start a study and/or support group which meets regularly. It will be a valuable and eye-opening undertaking. The most frequently used text for study of evil and destructive speech laws is the Chofetz Chayim's monumental work on the subject.

The Talmud (Pesachim 113a) puts it succinctly, when it says regarding negative speech, "Do not deal in words." Treat hurtful, argumentative, slanderous, critical, insulting, nasty, embarrassing or otherwise sinful or destructive speech like a criminal or perverse profession that you wouldn't have anything to do with. The Talmud (Kesobos 5b) says that if you hear an improper thing, put your fingers or earlobes into your ears to block it out.

Remember always that Heaven treats each person "mida kinnegged mida (measure for measure - Sota 8b)." The way you behave to others is the way Heaven behaves to you. The way you judge people is the way Heaven judges you. It is advisable to always treat and judge all Jews favorably.

Four Hundred barrels of Rabbi Huna's wine turned sour. The rabbis told him to examine his actions. It turned out that he did not pay some of his workers. When he did tshuva (repaired the debt) he made money from his business which equalled his former loss (Brachos 5b). If people think into misfortune, hardship or suffering, they can oftentimes discern that they did (or caused) to another person something which has a parallel to what happened to them. Mr. A withheld pay from creditors or workers; or Mr. A said something about B that cost B his job and livelihood. Mr. A's business has subsequently fallen on hard times. Mr. C said something slanderous publicly that broke people's confidence in D, humiliated D in front of other people and non-halachically (against Torah law) harmed D's career, reputation or shidduch. Mr. C has subsequently become the object of a disgracing public scandal. Mrs. E does a sin in private. Providence causes witness to see her, leading to public knowledge and legal adjudication of her action (Sota 8b).

Since speech is less tangible than action, it is possible to lose sight of its power. Nevertheless, the tongue has the power of life and death, happiness or misery, building or destroying. You must always be careful with your speech as well as your actions.