How can a person break the terrible habit of nasty talk?

on Jul 30, 2026

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: I struggle with my language – bad language. I didn’t grow up around nasty talk, and I haven’t even realized what has become of me until a friend who loved me enough told me: “Clean up your mouth.” I’ve examined how this happened and it is because I don’t confront my own friends with their language, and I put myself in front of entertainment that portrays vulgar speech as normal. How can a person break this terrible habit? – N.T.

A: Some problems of the world could be solved overnight if men could get victory over their tongues. Suppose there was no anger, no profanity, no lying, no grumbling, or complaining; suppose there were no off-color jokes, no unjust criticism – what a different world this would be.

We should ask ourselves three questions before we speak: Is it true? Is it kind? Does it glorify Christ?

The tongue and the voice are gifts from God. These instruments of speech can be used destructively or employed constructively.

For Christians, particularly, we should say nothing that we would not wish to say in the presence of our Savior – and He is always with us. We should do nothing that we would not do in His presence. Cursing, telling smutty stories, smearing the good name of another, and referring irreverently to God and His Word is corrupt speech. Christians should have clean, pure, and wholesome tongues.

If we would always think before we speak, there would be much less evil speaking, and there would soon be a spiritual awakening that would sweep the nation. The Bible teaches that a person who can control the tongue can control his or her whole personality. This is something to take to heart.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)