Our Rabbi & Guarding One's Tongue

Our Rabbi, Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah Ha-Cohain Kook

On one occasion, when our Rabbi returned home from prayer, his taxi driver accidentally drove past his house. "Oops," said the driver, "I'll have to back up." Our Rabbi immediately corrected him, saying: "You have to proceed backwards."

On another occasion, our Rabbi was asked to "descend" a stairway. He immediately replied: "I do not 'descend'!" (implying that 'descent' has a negative connotation and that such expressions should be avoided).