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
Listen to many, speak to a few.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that we should value listening to others more than speaking ourselves.
William Shakespeare's quote 'Listen to many, speak to a few' emphasizes the importance of listening in communication. It implies that gaining insights and understanding from diverse perspectives is crucial, and that one should be selective and thoughtful when choosing to speak, contributing meaningfully to discussions rather than overwhelming them with words.
Themes
ListeningCommunicationWisdomThoughtfulnessPerspective
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop about effective communication, one could say, 'As Shakespeare wisely noted, listen to many, speak to a few, to encourage active engagement and understanding.'
More from William Shakespeare
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Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
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Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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