--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Frown not, old ghosts, if I be one of…" description: "\"“Frown not, old ghosts, if I be one of those Who make you utter things you did not say, And mould you all awry and mar your work; For whatsoever knows ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5af/alfred-tennyson-12166_frown_frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-thos_821401.jpg" --- # Frown not, old ghosts, if I be one of those Who make you… ![“Frown not, old ghosts, if I be one of those Who make you utter things you did not say, And mould you all awry and mar your work; For whatsoever knows us truly knows That none can truly write his single day, And none can write it for him upon earth.” quote by Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5af/alfred-tennyson-12166_frown_frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-thos_821401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5af/alfred-tennyson-12166_frown_frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-thos_821401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5af/alfred-tennyson-12166_frown_frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-thos_821401.jpg) > ““Frown not, old ghosts, if I be one of those Who make you utter things you did not say, And mould you all awry and mar your work; For whatsoever knows us truly knows That none can truly write his single day, And none can write it for him upon earth.”” [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker warns that those who speak for others without true understanding distort the truth and cannot authentically capture life's story. **In simple terms:** Speaking without knowledge misrepresents truth. Key Takeaway Seek genuine understanding before speaking. Themes authenticity communication truth literature self-awareness Mood reflective melancholic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - public speaking - teaching - leadership Key Concepts Poetry philosophy self-reflection Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly know someone? - How can we avoid speaking out of ignorance? A Different Perspective May overstate personal insight; context may limit relevance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day Write](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day-write/) [Frown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frown/) [Frown Old](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frown-old-475804/) [Ghosts Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ghosts-make-475806/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Utter Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/utter-things-475805/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [We were all ghosts of yesterday, but only a few of us become the ghosts that make up yesterday for others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-were-all-ghosts-of-yesterday-but-only-a-few-of-us-become-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Nobody likes to see a body, but it's better than seeing a ghost. Bodies just make you doubt the world and the people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-marshall-smith/nobody-likes-to-see-a-body-but-it-s-better-than-seeing-a-ghost-bodies/) [Michael Marshall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-marshall-smith/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [Some writers say they cannot write in front of a window; many say they cannot function without almost perfect quiet. A writer with only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-wolfe/some-writers-say-they-cannot-write-in-front-of-a-window-many-say-they/) [Gene Wolfe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-wolfe/) > [At the end of the day you do have to write a short novel beforehand, called a script, before you can make a movie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-garrel/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-do-have-to-write-a-short-novel-beforehand/) [Louis Garrel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-garrel/) > [If someone had told me in high school that one day I'd write an historical novel, I would have rolled my eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-horan/if-someone-had-told-me-in-high-school-that-one-day-i-d-write-an/) [Nancy Horan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-horan/) > [“1. Write every day 2. Write what interests you. 3. Write for the child inside of you. (Or the adult, if you are writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-yolen/1-write-every-day-2-write-what-interests-you-3-write-for-the-child/) [Jane Yolen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-yolen/) > [“I don’t understand—why won’t you talk to me? You sit in the corner all day and write in your book and look at everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-don-t-understand-why-won-t-you-talk-to-me-you-sit-in-the-corner-all/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [I love my journal as much as I love my phone. I find it to be a big part of my self-care to reflect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franchesca-ramsey/i-love-my-journal-as-much-as-i-love-my-phone-i-find-it-to-be-a-big/) [Franchesca Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franchesca-ramsey/) > [Buy a blank notebook. Draw a huge heart on the cover. Dont write anything negative in here. If you need another outlet, make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/buy-a-blank-notebook-draw-a-huge-heart-on-the-cover-dont-write/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [“It’s a great day to write a best-seller.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buffy-andrews/it-s-a-great-day-to-write-a-best-seller/) [Buffy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buffy-andrews/) > [“when paying more than $1,000 a day to write the chapter in a suite of an old hotel down the street from a Hogwarts-style…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/when-paying-more-than-1-000-a-day-to-write-the-chapter-in-a-suite-of/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“The only day you should never write and achieve your goals is when the day ends with the letter y.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/onyi-anyado/the-only-day-you-should-never-write-and-achieve-your-goals-is-when/) [Onyi Anyado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/onyi-anyado/) > [I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the-world-i-know-that-but-i-also/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [How many words a day do I write? Between six and seven thousand. And how many hours does that take? Three on a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-creasey/how-many-words-a-day-do-i-write-between-six-and-seven-thousand-and/) [John Creasey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-creasey/) ## More by Alfred Tennyson > [“Let Knowledge grow from more to more; but more of reference in us dwell”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/let-knowledge-grow-from-more-to-more-but-more-of-reference-in-us-dwell/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“ The Eagle He clasps the crag with crooked hands; Close to the sun in lonely lands, Ring'd with the azure world, he stands.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/the-eagle-he-clasps-the-crag-with-crooked-hands-close-to-the-sun-in/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“I sometimes hold it half a sin To put in words the grief I feel; For words, like Nature, half reveal And half conceal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/i-sometimes-hold-it-half-a-sin-to-put-in-words-the-grief-i-feel-for/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“May make my heart as a milestone, set my face as a flint, cheat and be cheated, and die: who knows? we are ashes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/may-make-my-heart-as-a-milestone-set-my-face-as-a-flint-cheat-and-be/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“But in her web she still delights To weave the mirror’s magic sights, For often thro’ the silent nights A funeral, with plumes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/but-in-her-web-she-still-delights-to-weave-the-mirror-s-magic-sights/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“In her right hand the lily, in her left The letter--all her bright hair streaming down-- And all the coverlid was cloth of gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/in-her-right-hand-the-lily-in-her-left-the-letter-all-her-bright-hair/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“Brothers in Art: a friendship so complete”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/brothers-in-art-a-friendship-so-complete/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“I cannot rest from travel: I will drink Life to the lees; all times I have enjoy’d Greatly, have suffer’d greatly, both with those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/i-cannot-rest-from-travel-i-will-drink-life-to-the-lees-all-times-i/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“The old order changes, giving place to the new... least on good custom should corrupts the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/the-old-order-changes-giving-place-to-the-new-least-on-good-custom/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward, All in the valley of Death Rode the six hundred. "Forward the Light Brigade!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/half-a-league-half-a-league-half-a-league-onward-all-in-the-valley-of/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“Oh yet we trust that somehow good Will be the final goal of ill, To pangs of nature, sins of will, Defects of doubt,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/oh-yet-we-trust-that-somehow-good-will-be-the-final-goal-of-ill-to/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“Let us hush this cry of 'Forward', till ten thousand years have gone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/let-us-hush-this-cry-of-forward-till-ten-thousand-years-have-gone/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“And while he waited in the castle court, The voice of Enid, Yniol's daughter, rang Clear through the open casement of the hall, Singing;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/and-while-he-waited-in-the-castle-court-the-voice-of-enid-yniol-s/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“And Gareth bowed himself with all obedience to the King, and wrought All kind of service with a noble ease That graced the lowliest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/and-gareth-bowed-himself-with-all-obedience-to-the-king-and-wrought/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) > [“It little profits that an idle king, By this still hearth, among these barren crags, Matched with an aged wife, I mete and dole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/it-little-profits-that-an-idle-king-by-this-still-hearth-among-these/) [Alfred Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) [Explore all 55 Alfred Tennyson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/) ## More Frown quotes > [“Just because she doesn't talk about it, doesn't mean she isn't feeling it. She hurts, but she won't wear it on her sleeve. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfa-h/just-because-she-doesn-t-talk-about-it-doesn-t-mean-she-isn-t-feeling/) [Alfa H](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfa-h/) > [“It is my look they will flinch from now, my frown that they must fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/it-is-my-look-they-will-flinch-from-now-my-frown-that-they-must-fear/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Why should we strive, with cynic frown, to knock their fairy castles down?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliza-cook/why-should-we-strive-with-cynic-frown-to-knock-their-fairy-castles/) [Eliza Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliza-cook/) > [“I think this is one bad side of a mirror; it helps us to see the reflection of the effects of our own actions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/i-think-this-is-one-bad-side-of-a-mirror-it-helps-us-to-see-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Turn that frown upside down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/migzylou/turn-that-frown-upside-down/) [Migzylou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/migzylou/) > [Never look down or frown. You don't know who might be falling in love with your smile!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-look-down-or-frown-you-don-t-know-who-might-be-falling-in-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“He celebrated his solitude with a frown.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-lawrence/he-celebrated-his-solitude-with-a-frown/) [R.J. Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-lawrence/) > [It's nice not to have lines when you frown, especially on TV. I don't know why people make such a fuss about it. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felicity-kendal/it-s-nice-not-to-have-lines-when-you-frown-especially-on-tv-i-don-t/) [Felicity Kendal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felicity-kendal/) > [“Maman told me that every time you smile, a very tiny bit of the smile stays stuck to your face, so as you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-king/maman-told-me-that-every-time-you-smile-a-very-tiny-bit-of-the-smile/) [Claire King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-king/) > [“Her face might be kindly if she would smile. But the frown isn't personal: it's the red dress she disapproves of, and what it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/her-face-might-be-kindly-if-she-would-smile-but-the-frown-isn-t/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [“I frown, not stating the obvious, that Eight could be the one who was killed down in Florida.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pittacus-lore/i-frown-not-stating-the-obvious-that-eight-could-be-the-one-who-was/) [Pittacus Lore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pittacus-lore/) > [Hid the pain and don't let them see your scars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hid-the-pain-and-don-t-let-them-see-your-scars/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A smile cures the wounding of a frown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-smile-cures-the-wounding-of-a-frown/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Even If I Have Hundreds Of Reasons To Be Sad.. Thousands Of Reasons To Frown.. Millions Of Reasons To Cry..You Are The Only Reason..…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-if-i-have-hundreds-of-reasons-to-be-sad-thousands-of-reasons-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wear a smile and have friends.. wear a frown and have wrinkles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/wear-a-smile-and-have-friends-wear-a-frown-and-have-wrinkles/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) [Browse all 155 Frown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frown/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Frown not, old ghosts, if I be one of those Who make you utter things you did not say, And mould you all awry and mar your work; For whatsoever knows us truly knows That none can truly write his single day, And none can write it for him upon earth.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alfred Tennyson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-those-who-make-you-utter-things/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Frown" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-those-who-make-you-utter-things/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5af/alfred-tennyson-12166_frown_frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-thos_821401.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5af/alfred-tennyson-12166_frown_frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-thos_821401.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5af/alfred-tennyson-12166_frown_frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-thos_821401.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Frown not, old ghosts, if I be one of those Who make you utter things you did not say, And mould you all…” — Alfred Tennyson", "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": "Alfred Tennyson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-tennyson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Frown not, old ghosts, if I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-those-who-make-you-utter-things/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-tennyson/frown-not-old-ghosts-if-i-be-one-of-those-who-make-you-utter-things/#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 } } ] } ```