Sticks and Stones (Nursery Rhyme)

Summary


"Sticks and Stones" is a short nursery rhyme that delivers a punchy message about emotional resilience in just two lines. The verse boldly declares that while physical harm is real, words alone hold no power over us — a defiant stance against name-calling and verbal taunts. Simple in form but strong in feeling, this rhyme captures a determined, unbothered voice that refuses to be wounded by what others say.


Read Online

Sticks and stones may break my bones
But words shall never hurt me.


Credits

Ririro is the in-house pen name for original and traditional content published on Ririro.com, a free online platform dedicated to sharing short stories, poems, and nursery rhymes with readers everywhere. "Sticks and Stones" is one of the most enduring English-language nursery rhymes, with roots tracing back to at least the 19th century, where it appeared in collections as a childhood motto against bullying.