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.
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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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