Gentle is the best

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)

President Harry Truman appointed Newbold Morris to...keep a close check on crime and mismanagement in goverment affairs. On one question, however, Morris was called before a Senate subcommittee to answer questions about the sale of some ships by his own company.... The interrogation became intense and emotions ran high.

Then Morris remembered a note his wife had given him that morning. Sensing the need to calm everyone down, he called out..., "Wait a minute. I have a note here from my wife." Pulling it out of his pocket, he read..., "Keep your shirt on." There was a burst of laughter and the tension was eased.