"I used to think that sticks and stones could break…

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names/words will never harm me” is a classic children’s rhyme. A joke variation was posted on Twitter by Steph Marie on May 5, 2011:

“I used to think that sticks and stones could break my bones but words would never hurt me, until I fell into a printing press.”

The joke is from English comedian Milton Jones. “‘I used to think that sticks and stones could break my bones, but words will never hurt me… until I fell into a printing press.’ -Milton J” was posted on Twitter by Olly Newport on November 26, 2011. “I used to think that sticks and stones could break my bones, words could never hurt me. Until I fell into a printing press. - Milton Jones” was posted on Twitter by Joe Gerard 🌈 on July 19, 2017.

Wikipedia: Sticks and Stones
“Sticks and Stones” is an English-language children’s rhyme. The rhyme persuades the child victim of name-calling to ignore the taunt, to refrain from physical retaliation, and to remain calm and good-living. The full rhyme is usually a variant of:

Sticks and stones may break my bones
But words will never harm me.

The rhyme is an example of linguistic Siamese twins.

Wikipedia: Milton Jones
Milton Hywel Jones (born 16 May 1964) is an English comedian. His style of humour is based on one-liners involving puns delivered in a deadpan and slightly neurotic style. Jones has had various shows on BBC Radio 4 and is a recurring guest panellist on Mock the Week. He won the Perrier comedy award for best newcomer in 1996. and in 2012, Another Case of Milton Jones was awarded silver in the ‘Best Comedy’ category at the 30th Sony Radio Academy awards. Jones tours the UK periodically and is a regular performer at The Comedy Store in London and Manchester.

Twitter
Steph Marie
@steph_crichton
I used to think that sticks and stones could break my bones but words would never hurt me, until I fell into a printing press. LOL
5:21 PM · May 5, 2011·Mobile Web

Twitter
Charley Genever
@charleyfarleyha
I used to think that sticks & stones would break my bones but words will never hurt me, until I fell into a printing press.
6:19 PM · May 6, 2011·TweetDeck

Twitter
Olly Newport
@OllyNewport
“I used to think that sticks and stones could break my bones, but words will never hurt me… until I fell into a printing press.” -Milton J
7:04 PM · Nov 26, 2011·Twitter for Mac

Twitter
Joe Gerard 🌈
@OklaVoter
I used to think that sticks and stones could break my bones, words could never hurt me. Until I fell into a printing press.
- Milton Jones
11:43 PM · Jul 19, 2017·Twitter for Android

Reddit—Oneliners
Posted by u/madazzahatter June 7, 2018
I used to think sticks and stones could break my bones but words could never hurt me – until I fell into a printing press.

Twitter
Nad Nelkcarps
@scepticalgoat
“I used to think that sticks and stones may break my bones but words could never hurt me… until I fell into a printing press” - Milton Jones
@themiltonjones 😂
12:02 PM · Feb 26, 2019·Twitter Web App

Twitter
Kyle Paisley
@JCKP1966
Replying to @ppdoddy and @ppdoddy2
“I used to think sticks and stones would break my bones but words would never hurt me. Until I fell into a printing press.” (Milton Jones).
8:23 PM · Apr 23, 2019·Twitter Web App

Reddit—Oneliners
Posted by u/imperfectshane June 4, 2020
My grandad always used to say sticks and stones can break my bones but words could never hurt me ...until he fell into a printing press

“I used to think that sticks and stones could break my bones but words could never hurt me…”