As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
William ShakespeareRead
He hath a heart as sound as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper; for what his heart thinks his tongue speaks.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that a person's true thoughts and intentions are conveyed through their words.
In this quote, Shakespeare illustrates the idea that an individual's sincerity and authenticity are revealed through their speech. When a person has a 'heart as sound as a bell,' it means that their character is pure and honest, and their words, represented by the 'clapper' of the bell, resonate truthfully with their inner thoughts. Therefore, what one genuinely believes will be expressed openly, emphasizing the importance of integrity in communication.
Themes
TruthIntegrityCommunicationAuthenticitySpeech
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a speech about the importance of honesty in relationships.
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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