QuoteProject
The mouth obeys poorly when the heart murmurs.
Voltaire
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that our true feelings often influence what we say, even if we try to hide them.

Voltaire's quote highlights the disconnect that can occur between our genuine emotions and the words we express. It implies that when our hearts feel deeply, it becomes challenging for our mouths to articulate anything contrary, hinting at the importance of authenticity in communication and the way our inner truths can often betray our spoken words.

Themes

EmotionCommunicationAuthenticityHeartExpression

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about honesty in relationships, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of speaking from the heart.

More from Voltaire

Prejudices are what fools use for reason.
VoltaireRead
He was a great patriot, a humanitarian, a loyal friend; provided, of course, he really is dead.
VoltaireRead
It is dangerous to be right in matters where established men are wrong.
VoltaireRead
It is not sufficient to see and to know the beauty of a work. We must feel and be affected by it.
VoltaireRead
We are all full of weakness and errors; let us mutually pardon each other our follies - it is the first law of nature.
VoltaireRead
It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
VoltaireRead

Similar quotes

In all legends men have thought of women as sublime separately but horrible in a herd.
Gilbert K. ChestertonRead
I miss God. I miss the company of someone utterly loyal. I still don't think of God as my betrayer. The servants of God, yes, but servants by their very nature betray. I miss God who was my friend. I don't even know if God exists, but I do know that if God is your emotional role model, very few human relationships will match up to it.
Jeanette WintersonRead
I don't want to be married to someone who feels inferior to my success or because I make more money than he does.
Grace KellyRead
One of the things that happens in our regular lives is that when we're in moments of pain or feeling alone, we may hesitate to reach out to others because we may think - they're not going through the same experiences I am.
Vivek MurthyRead
And for me, it is a choice. I understand that for many people its not, but for me its a choice, and you dont get to define my gayness for me. A certain section of our community is very concerned that it not be seen as a choice, because if its a choice, then we could opt out. I say it doesnt matter if we flew here or we swam here, it matters that we are here and we are one group and let us stop trying to make a litmus test for who is considered gay and who is not.
Cynthia NixonRead
When my father came out to his mom, my grandmother said, 'You waited for your father to die; why couldn't you have waited for me to die?' I knew then that I never want to contribute to the corrosiveness of wanting someone to stay hidden.
Carrie BrownsteinRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.