John Wesley's "Cutting" Criticism
IllustrationStory★★★★Once, while he was preaching, John Wesley noticed a lady in the audience who was known for her critical attitude. All through the service she sat and stared at his new tie. When the meeting ended she came up to him and said very sharply, “Mr.
Wesley, the strings on your bow tie are much to long. It’s an offense to me!” He asked if any of the ladies present happened to have a pair of scissors in her purse. When the scissors were handed to him, he gave them to his critic and asked her to trim the streamers to her liking.
After she clipped them off near the collar, he said, “Are you sure they’re all right now?” “Yes, that’s much better.” “Then let me have those shears a moment, “ said Wesley.
“I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if I also gave you a bit of correction. I don’t want to be cruel, but I must tell you, madam, that your tongue is an offense to me—it’s too long!
Please stick it out; I’d like to take some off!” –1001 Great Stories & Quotes, R. Kent Hughes (Wheaton, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1998), 95.
R. Kent Hughes, 1001 Great Stories & Quotes, 95.
The point
A critical lady complains to John Wesley that his bow tie ribbons are too long and offensive. Wesley hands her scissors to trim them, then quips that her tongue is also too long and offensive.