Your ShelfYour Projects

HABIT OF EXAGGERATION

20%

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 17, 1862

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 20, No. 3.

Read the full edition

HABIT OF EXAGGERATION.

"I will skin you alive if you do that again," exclaimed a mother to a naughty child. It was a sort of hyperbolic expression that has crept into frequent use, with a multitude of other expressions of similar character. She did not mean that she should proceed to flay the little one as butchers would a calf or lamb. The execution of her threat would fill her own soul with excessive horror. She would not have strength to make much progress in the very barbarous work of skinning her child alive. It would not be motherly.
"I will whip you within an inch of your life," said a father to his erring son. This would be a terrible whipping indeed. Coming so near to death's door with the rod would be revolting. He did not mean this. He only meant that he would administer a very severe chastisement. No one would be more careful than he not to jeopardize the life of his son. His expression was only a form of exaggeration which society seems to tolerate.
How many precisely such speeches are made in every circle. "It was done as quick as lightning." "He is as slow as a snail." "It is as hot as an oven." "It is as cold as Greenland." There is no end to such expressions. And they indicate that the habit of exaggeration is very strong in the human family. Human nature seems inclined "to stretch the truth." That is the reason that such strange stories are told, often becoming magnified to such an extent after having passed through several hands. "A story loses nothing by traveling" is an old saying. It usually grows like a ball of snow which school-fellows roll. Every tongue that repeats it gives it an additional turning over, by which it accumulates. Yet none mean to exaggerate.
It is a fault, however, is it not? May it not be a sin? It is certainly deceptive to tell a child that you will skin him alive when you have no idea of perpetrating the infernal deed. Should we not talk as we mean? Let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay. At least, this should be done to children.—Home Monthly.