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
Rich honesty dwells like a miser, Sir, in a poor house; as your pearl in your foul oyster.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True honesty is often found in humble circumstances, just like a valuable pearl hidden in an unappealing oyster.
In this quote, William Shakespeare suggests that genuine honesty and truth can often be found in the most unexpected and unrefined places, much like a pearl, which is a valuable and beautiful treasure, emerges from the rough environment of an oyster. This metaphor highlights the idea that true worth and integrity are not always associated with outward appearances or wealth, underscoring the importance of recognizing and valuing honesty in all its forms, regardless of the setting.
Themes
HonestyIntegrityWisdomTruthValue
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about ethics in business, one could use this quote to emphasize the importance of integrity.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes βLove bears it out even to the edge of doom.
William ShakespeareRead
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
William ShakespeareRead
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
William ShakespeareRead
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
William ShakespeareRead
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
William ShakespeareRead
Similar quotes
The painful thing is that when we buy into disapproval, we are practicing disapproval. When we buy into harshness, we are practicing harshness. The more we do it, the stronger these qualities become. How sad it is that we become so expert at causing harm to ourselves and others. The trick then is to practice gentleness and letting go. We can learn to meet whatever arises with curiosity and not make it such a big deal.
Pema ChodronRead
I don't want people to say, 'Something is true because Tyson says it is true.' That's not critical thinking.
Neil Degrasse TysonRead
I don't let go of concepts -I meet them with understanding. Then they let go of me.
Byron KatieRead
Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything.
Mother TeresaRead
I experience each moment like baklava: rich in this layer, and this layer, and this layer.
Ram DassRead
Sincere words are not fine; fine words are not sincere.
Lao TzuRead