Anybody who thinks talk is cheap should get some legal advice.

Hear now the wit and wisdom of Franklin P. Jones, who once declared with sharp humor: “Anybody who thinks talk is cheap should get some legal advice.” At first it sounds like jest, but within it lies a truth carved deep in the stone of human dealings. For words, though made of breath, carry weight heavier than gold when spoken in the realm of law. What seems a fleeting sound may, in the courts of man, become binding oath, accusation, or judgment. Thus, the saying mocks the common belief that speech is light, reminding us instead that in certain hands, talk is among the costliest of all things.

The origin of the quote springs from the nature of the legal profession, where words are not mere decorations but weapons, shields, and currencies. To speak before a judge or to draft a contract is not a small thing. Every word is measured, every phrase sharpened, for a misplaced syllable can alter fortunes, ruin reputations, or bind generations to terms they did not foresee. The lawyer’s tongue, trained in the labyrinth of statutes and precedents, is a costly tool, and thus legal advice—though it may arrive as nothing more than spoken counsel—demands sums greater than most craftsmen’s labor.

Consider the tale of Socrates, the philosopher of Athens, whose fate was sealed not by sword, but by speech. His words, misunderstood or twisted by accusation, led him to stand trial for corrupting the youth. He defended himself with brilliance, yet the legal words of his accusers carried greater sway. In the end, it was not silence but talk that condemned him, proving that speech is never truly cheap—it may cost even life itself.

So too in modern times, men and women have lost homes, fortunes, and freedom through contracts they did not read or statements they did not weigh. A careless word to a lawyer or a judge may unravel years of labor. A signature upon a document, composed of little more than words, may carry obligations vast and unyielding. Thus, Franklin P. Jones speaks with irony: those who dismiss words as trifles forget that in the realm of law, words are the coin of destiny.

The lesson, then, is this: guard your tongue, for it can be more costly than silence. Do not rush to speak where the consequences may be binding. Seek wisdom before offering promises, oaths, or agreements. And when dealing with matters of law, know that every word has value—some as shields to protect you, others as chains to bind you. To treat talk as cheap is to underestimate its power; to treat it with reverence is to walk wisely.

What must you do? Learn to weigh your words as though they were gold dust upon a scale. Read carefully before you sign. Ask questions before you agree. Seek counsel not with haste but with discernment, and remember that free speech is not the same as costless speech. Even in friendship and family, words may wound or heal, bind or liberate. Practice restraint, clarity, and truth, so that your talk enriches rather than impoverishes.

In this way, Franklin P. Jones’ jest becomes eternal wisdom: talk is never cheap—it can be the costliest thing you possess. Let this truth be passed down to future generations, that they may speak with care, listen with diligence, and never forget that the greatest fortunes and the gravest losses in human history have often begun not with a sword stroke, but with a word.