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
Thy words, I grant are bigger, for I wear not, my dagger in my mouth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of thoughtful speech over aggressive or hostile words.
In this quote, Shakespeare suggests that while one may have grand or powerful words, it is crucial to communicate them with care and restraint. The metaphor of not wearing a 'dagger in my mouth' implies that one should speak wisely and not resort to verbal aggression, reflecting the power of words in shaping our interactions and the need for measured speech.
Themes
WordsSpeechWisdomCommunicationRestraint
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the power of communication, one might quote Shakespeare to highlight the impact of our words.
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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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