--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A great ox stands on my tongue." description: "\"A great ox stands on my tongue.\" — Aeschylus" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/aeschylus-749_stands_a-great-ox-stands-on-my-tongue-1379161_1379161.png" --- # A great ox stands on my tongue. ![“A great ox stands on my tongue.” quote by Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/aeschylus-749_stands_a-great-ox-stands-on-my-tongue-1379161_1379161.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/aeschylus-749_stands_a-great-ox-stands-on-my-tongue-1379161_1379161.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/aeschylus-749_stands_a-great-ox-stands-on-my-tongue-1379161_1379161.png) > “A great ox stands on my tongue.” [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A powerful metaphor for speech that is heavy, burdensome, or overwhelming **In simple terms:** Words can feel like a massive ox on your tongue Key Takeaway Speak clearly, avoid overloading your speech Themes communication burden clarity Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - public speaking - debate - teaching - writing Key Concepts metaphor rhetoric self‑control Questions to Reflect On - What topics cause you to feel speechless? - How can you simplify complex ideas for others? A Different Perspective Overly complex language can hinder understanding; simplicity may be undervalued ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“At a great distance appeared with the same pomp the sheep of Thebes, the dog of Bubastis, the cat of Phoebe, the crocodile of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/at-a-great-distance-appeared-with-the-same-pomp-the-sheep-of-thebes/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [The tongue of slander is too prompt with wanton malice to wound the stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-tongue-of-slander-is-too-prompt-with-wanton-malice-to-wound-the/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I was just born involved in politics. 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He's just a tough kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/klay-thompson-stands-out-he-s-just-a-tough-kid/) [Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/) > [No economy ever stands still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-henry-roy-forbes-harrod/no-economy-ever-stands-still/) Sir Henry Roy Forbes Harrod > [The entire political system is contrary to everything a feminine heart stands for. It lacks inclusion. It lacks tenderness toward children. It lacks honor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-entire-political-system-is-contrary-to-everything-a-feminine/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [When you have box-office results, Hollywood treats you different. Hollywood stands up. 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However,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homaro-cantu/from-food-trucks-to-hot-dog-stands-to-county-fair-favorites-street/) [Homaro Cantu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homaro-cantu/) ## More by Aeschylus > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [May dawn, as the proverb goes, bring happy tidings coming from her mother night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/may-dawn-as-the-proverb-goes-bring-happy-tidings-coming-from-her/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [In visions of the night, like dropping rain, Descend the many memories of pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/in-visions-of-the-night-like-dropping-rain-descend-the-many-memories/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [The cure is in the house, not brought by other hands from distant places, but by its own, in agony and blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-cure-is-in-the-house-not-brought-by-other-hands-from-distant/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [The tongue of slander is too prompt with wanton malice to wound the stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-tongue-of-slander-is-too-prompt-with-wanton-malice-to-wound-the/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [The holy heaven yearns to wound the earth, and yearning layeth hold on the earth to join in wedlock; the rain, fallen from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/the-holy-heaven-yearns-to-wound-the-earth-and-yearning-layeth-hold-on/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [God loves to help him who strives to help himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/god-loves-to-help-him-who-strives-to-help-himself/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Good fortune is a god among men, and more than a god.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/good-fortune-is-a-god-among-men-and-more-than-a-god/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Zeus, first cause, prime mover; for what thing without Zeus is done among mortals?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/zeus-first-cause-prime-mover-for-what-thing-without-zeus-is-done/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [God planteth in mortal men the cause of sin whensoever he wills utterly to destroy a house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/god-planteth-in-mortal-men-the-cause-of-sin-whensoever-he-wills/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Human prosperity never rests but always craves more, till blown up with pride it totters and falls. From the opulent mansions pointed at by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/human-prosperity-never-rests-but-always-craves-more-till-blown-up/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [To be free from evil thoughts is God's best gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/to-be-free-from-evil-thoughts-is-god-s-best-gift/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [Hungry wailing standeth not aloof.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hungry-wailing-standeth-not-aloof/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [“If libations were proper to pour above the slain, this man deserved, more than deserved, such sacrament. He filled our cup with evil things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/if-libations-were-proper-to-pour-above-the-slain-this-man-deserved/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [For there is no defense for a man who, in the excess of his wealth, has kicked the great altar of Justice out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/for-there-is-no-defense-for-a-man-who-in-the-excess-of-his-wealth-has/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) [Explore all 382 Aeschylus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) ## More Stands quotes > [When I was a rookie, I had to shag balls out of the stands. It was my rookie duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/when-i-was-a-rookie-i-had-to-shag-balls-out-of-the-stands-it-was-my/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [I was just born involved in politics. My family is conservative Mormon, and so I was born - although the Mormon faith is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyrsten-sinema/i-was-just-born-involved-in-politics-my-family-is-conservative-mormon/) [Kyrsten Sinema](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyrsten-sinema/) > [CJ is my nickname. It stands for Cameron, and my middle name is John.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cj-adams/cj-is-my-nickname-it-stands-for-cameron-and-my-middle-name-is-john/) CJ Adams > [We don't think that we are in a quarrel with anybody. We may have a difference of opinion, but we'll not allow such differences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafik-hariri/we-don-t-think-that-we-are-in-a-quarrel-with-anybody-we-may-have-a/) [Rafik Hariri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafik-hariri/) > [Don't knock the ball in the stands, keep it in your hands!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-russell/don-t-knock-the-ball-in-the-stands-keep-it-in-your-hands/) [Bill Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-russell/) > [President Clinton not only benefits by gay and lesbian votes, but he benefits by showing the nation that he is a strong leader who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mixner/president-clinton-not-only-benefits-by-gay-and-lesbian-votes-but-he/) [David Mixner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mixner/) > [From food trucks to hot dog stands to county fair favorites, 'street food' has enjoyed a rich and storied history in American cuisine. However,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homaro-cantu/from-food-trucks-to-hot-dog-stands-to-county-fair-favorites-street/) [Homaro Cantu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homaro-cantu/) > [When you have box-office results, Hollywood treats you different. Hollywood stands up. Once you get to the point where Hollywood sees that you create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/when-you-have-box-office-results-hollywood-treats-you-different/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [The entire political system is contrary to everything a feminine heart stands for. It lacks inclusion. It lacks tenderness toward children. It lacks honor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-entire-political-system-is-contrary-to-everything-a-feminine/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [No economy ever stands still.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-henry-roy-forbes-harrod/no-economy-ever-stands-still/) Sir Henry Roy Forbes Harrod > [Klay Thompson stands out. He's just a tough kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-boeheim/klay-thompson-stands-out-he-s-just-a-tough-kid/) [Jim Boeheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-boeheim/) > [I can tell whether a person can play just by the way he stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/i-can-tell-whether-a-person-can-play-just-by-the-way-he-stands/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [He asked if I was a songwriter, and I said yeah, that I was in town because I'd won this contest. He said, okay,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-godfrey/he-asked-if-i-was-a-songwriter-and-i-said-yeah-that-i-was-in-town/) [Arthur Godfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-godfrey/) > [“A hero stands up to the villain in themselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-maye/a-hero-stands-up-to-the-villain-in-themselves/) [Ricky Maye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-maye/) > [I'm most proud of the fact I carried myself on and off the field consistently for what the NFL stands for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-shields/i-m-most-proud-of-the-fact-i-carried-myself-on-and-off-the-field/) [Will Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-shields/) Browse all 260 Stands quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A great ox stands on my tongue.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Aeschylus" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/a-great-ox-stands-on-my-tongue/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Stands" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/a-great-ox-stands-on-my-tongue/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/aeschylus-749_stands_a-great-ox-stands-on-my-tongue-1379161_1379161.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/aeschylus-749_stands_a-great-ox-stands-on-my-tongue-1379161_1379161.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e5/aeschylus-749_stands_a-great-ox-stands-on-my-tongue-1379161_1379161.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A great ox stands on my tongue.” — Aeschylus", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Aeschylus", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "A great ox stands on my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/a-great-ox-stands-on-my-tongue/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/a-great-ox-stands-on-my-tongue/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```