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
Lord Bacon told Sir Edward Coke when he was boasting, The less you speak of your greatness, the more shall I think of it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True greatness is often understated and can shine more brightly when not bragged about.
This quote suggests that people who are truly great do not need to vocalize their accomplishments to be recognized. Instead, their greatness is evident through their actions and presence, making modesty a sign of true strength and character. Being humble allows others to perceive one's worth without the need for self-promotion.
Themes
GreatnessHumilityModestyWisdomRecognition
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about leadership, one might refer to this quote to emphasize the value of humility.
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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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