So a voice in the mountain is enough to let loose an avalanche. A word too much may be followed by a caving in. If the word had not been spoken, it would not have happened.
This quote from Victor Hugo's novel Ninety-Three profoundly captures the idea of the immense power that a single word can wield. It draws a compelling metaphor between a seemingly small event—a ‘voice in the mountain’—and the disproportionate consequence it can trigger—an avalanche. This analogy vividly illustrates how fragile and interlinked our social and psychological landscapes can be. Words, often considered mere tools for communication, hold an almost elemental force, capable of initiating great changes or causing significant disruptions. The imagery of an avalanche aptly conveys this uncontrollable momentum: once a word is spoken and sets off a reaction, it can be impossible to stop the cascade that follows.
Reflecting on this, I'm reminded of how vital caution and mindfulness are in communication. The quote warns about the risks of careless or excessive speech. A
