A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

STICKS and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me
Similar to HARD words break no bones.

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  1894 G. F. NORTHALL Folk-Phrases 23 Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me! Said by one youngster to another calling names. 1980 Cosmopolitan Dec. 137 ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones,’ goes the children’s rhyme, ‘but words will never hurt me.’ One wonders whether the people on the receiving end.. would agree. 2001 Times 28 Dec. 20 Sticks and stones may break some bones, but, as every journalist knows, words truly hurt. They rouse the fiends of fury, litigation and letters to the press. ■ malice; words and deeds
  

A STILL tongue makes a wise head

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  1562 J. HEYWOOD Works Dd3V Hauyng a styll toung he had a besy head. 1776 T. COGAN John Buncle, Junior I. 238 Mum’s the word. .. A quiet tongue makes a wise head, says I. 1869 W. C. HAZLITT English Proverbs 35 A still tongue makes a wise head. 1892 A. QUILLER-COUCH I saw Three Ships vii. A still tongue makes a wise head. 1937 J. WORBY Other Half iv. ‘I believe in the old saying “A still tongue keeps a wise head”.’ ‘I guess you’re right. .. It’s no business of mine.’ ■speech and silence; wisdom
  

STILL waters run deep
Now commonly used to assert that a placid exterior hides a passionate or subtle nature. Cf. Q. CURTIUS De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni VII. iv. 13 altissima quaeque flumina minimo sono labi, the deepest rivers flow with least sound [said there to be a Bactrian saying].

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  c 1400 Cato’s Morals in Cursor Mundi (EETS) 1672 There the flode is deppist the water standis stillist. c 1410 J. LYDGATE Minor Poems (EETS) 476 Smothe waters ben ofte sithes [oftentimes] depe. 1616 T. DRAXE Adages 178 Where riuers runne most stilly, they are the deepest. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 287 Smooth Waters run deep. 1858 D. M. MULOCK Woman’s Thoughts about Women xii. In maturer age.. the fullest, tenderest tide of which the loving heart is capable may be described by those ‘still waters’ which ‘run deep’. 1979 M. UNDERWOOD Victim of Circumstances II. 86 As for her, still waters run deep, it seems. She always looked so solemn. .. Fancy her shooting him! 2001 National Review 30 Apr. 60 Still waters run deep, so they say. The stillest and deepest belonged to Greta Garbo, who abruptly ended a dispute with Hollywood’s moguls by saying, ‘I tink I go home now.’ She meant Sweden. ■ appearance, deceptive; speech and silence