QuoteProject
'Twas but my tongue, 'twas not my soul that swore.
Euripides
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote suggests that spoken promises may not reflect true intentions or feelings.

Euripides conveys the idea that words can be deceptive; while one may verbally commit to something, it does not necessarily mean they believe in it or have the conviction in their heart. This highlights the distinction between mere language and genuine sentiment, emphasizing that true intentions often lie beyond what is spoken.

Themes

WordsIntentionsDeceptionTruthSoul

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate about honesty, one might use this quote to illustrate the difference between spoken promises and true beliefs.

More from Euripides

I love the old way best, the simple way of poison, where we too are strong as men.
EuripidesRead
Mankind . . . possesses two supreme blessings. First of these is the goddess Demeter, or Earth whichever name you choose to call her by. It was she who gave to man his nourishment of grain. But after her there came the son of Semele, who matched her present by inventing liquid wine as his gift to man. For filled with that good gift, suffering mankind forgets its grief; from it comes sleep; with it oblivion of the troubles of the day. There is no other medicine for misery.
EuripidesRead
Money is far more persuasive than logical arguments.
EuripidesRead
Those whom God wishes to destroy, he first makes mad.
EuripidesRead
Who then will dare to say I'm weak or timid? No, they'll say I'm loyal as a friend, ruthless as a foe, so much like a hero destined for glory.
EuripidesRead
Waste not fresh tears over old griefs.
EuripidesRead

Similar quotes

The ability to make judgments lies at the heart of Christian living. Unless we are able to judge doctrine, lifestyles, and entertainment, unless we are able to distinguish between outer appearance and inner character, we just might miss the purpose for which God placed us on this earth. We might end up accepting a stone for bread and a snake for a fish.
Erwin W. LutzerRead
My worth to God in public is what I am in private.
Oswald ChambersRead
Institutions mistake good intentions for objectives. They say "health care"; that's an intention, not an objective.
Peter DruckerRead
There is no need to worry about mere size. We do not necessarily respect a fat man more than a thin man. Sir Isaac Newton was very much smaller than a hippopotamus, but we do not on that account value him less.
Bertrand RussellRead
What is it in you that brings you to a spiritual teacher in the first place? It's not the spirit in you, since that is already enlightened, and has no need to seek. No, it is the ego in you that brings you to a teacher.
Ken WilberRead
Make tawba not just for sins you've committed, but also for obligations you haven't fulfilled.
Ibn TaymiyyahRead

A little wisdom, now and then

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