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
The silence often of pure innocence persuades when speaking fails.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Innocence can communicate effectively without words.
This quote by William Shakespeare suggests that the purity and innocence of a person can convey a message more powerfully than words ever could. It emphasizes the idea that sometimes, what is unspoken, especially from someone innocent, can be more persuasive and impactful than any verbal expression of thoughts or feelings.
Themes
InnocenceSilenceCommunicationPersuasionWisdom
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used during a public speaking engagement to emphasize the importance of nonverbal communication.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes →Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
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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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