--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Language most shows a man; speak that I…" description: "\"Language most shows a man; speak that I may see thee; it springs out of the most retired and inmost parts of us, and is the image of the parent of it, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/ben-jonson-1371_communication_language-most-shows-a-man-speak-that-i-m_1133642.png" --- # Language most shows a man; speak that I may see thee; it… ![“Language most shows a man; speak that I may see thee; it springs out of the most retired and inmost parts of us, and is the image of the parent of it, the mind. No glass renders a man's form or likeness so true as his speech.” quote by Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/ben-jonson-1371_communication_language-most-shows-a-man-speak-that-i-m_1133642.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/ben-jonson-1371_communication_language-most-shows-a-man-speak-that-i-m_1133642.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e8/ben-jonson-1371_communication_language-most-shows-a-man-speak-that-i-m_1133642.png) > “Language most shows a man; speak that I may see thee; it springs out of the most retired and inmost parts of us, and is the image of the parent of it, the mind. No glass renders a man's form or likeness so true as his speech.” [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Speech reveals a person’s true character more accurately than appearance. **In simple terms:** Words reflect inner self. Key Takeaway Listen to language to understand people. Themes communication character perception Mood reflective analytical Type aphilosophical insightful When to use this quote - interviews - leadership - conflict resolution - personal relationships Key Concepts psychology linguistics identity Questions to Reflect On - How does your language reveal your values? - Can speech ever fully capture inner thoughts? A Different Perspective Speech can be deceptive; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Speech](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speech/) [Spring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spring/) ## Related quotes > [No glass renders a man's form or likeness so true as his speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/no-glass-renders-a-man-s-form-or-likeness-so-true-as-his-speech/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The true speech of man is idiomatic, if not of the earth and sky, then at least of the saloon and the bleachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/the-true-speech-of-man-is-idiomatic-if-not-of-the-earth-and-sky-then/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [“Language most shews a man: Speak, that I may see thee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/language-most-shews-a-man-speak-that-i-may-see-thee/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Language most shows a man, speak that I may see thee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/language-most-shows-a-man-speak-that-i-may-see-thee/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Words impress me. If a man can speak eloquently and beautifully to me, I just melt on the floor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-zeta-jones/words-impress-me-if-a-man-can-speak-eloquently-and-beautifully-to-me/) [Catherine Zeta-Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-zeta-jones/) > [I think my ideal man would speak many languages. He would speak Ibo and Yoruba and English and French and all of the others.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cleave/i-think-my-ideal-man-would-speak-many-languages-he-would-speak-ibo/) [Chris Cleave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cleave/) > [“Surely a Man may speak Truth with a smiling countenance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/surely-a-man-may-speak-truth-with-a-smiling-countenance/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [We all like to hear a man speak out on his convictions and principles. 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Well,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/but-what-can-a-decent-man-speak-of-with-most-pleasure-answer-of/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [Does a man speak foolishly?--suffer him gladly, for you are wise. Does he speak erroneously?--stop such a man's mouth with sound words that cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/does-a-man-speak-foolishly-suffer-him-gladly-for-you-are-wise-does-he/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [A man cannot speak but he judges himself. With his will or against his will he draws his portrait to the eye of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/a-man-cannot-speak-but-he-judges-himself-with-his-will-or-against-his/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Ben Jonson > [Soul of the Age! The applause! delight! the wonder of our stage! My Shakespeare, rise; I will not lodge thee by Chaucer, or Spenser,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/soul-of-the-age-the-applause-delight-the-wonder-of-our-stage-my/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Ambition, like a torrent, never looks back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/ambition-like-a-torrent-never-looks-back/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Heaven prepares good men with crosses; but no ill can happen to a good man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/heaven-prepares-good-men-with-crosses-but-no-ill-can-happen-to-a-good/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The dignity of truth is lost with much protesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-dignity-of-truth-is-lost-with-much-protesting/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [True melancholy breeds your perfect fine wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/true-melancholy-breeds-your-perfect-fine-wit/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Leave a kiss but in the cup, and I'll not look for wine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/leave-a-kiss-but-in-the-cup-and-i-ll-not-look-for-wine/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [All discourses but my own afflict me; they seem harsh, impertinent, and irksome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/all-discourses-but-my-own-afflict-me-they-seem-harsh-impertinent-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [“drink to the cause, and pure vapours”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/drink-to-the-cause-and-pure-vapours/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Spread yourself upon his bosom publicly, whose heart you would eat in private.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/spread-yourself-upon-his-bosom-publicly-whose-heart-you-would-eat-in/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [That old bald cheater, Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/that-old-bald-cheater-time/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Rich apparel has strange virtues; it makes him that hath it without means esteemed for an excellent wit; he that enjoys it with means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/rich-apparel-has-strange-virtues-it-makes-him-that-hath-it-without/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [Each petty hand Can steer a ship becalm'd; but he that will Govern and carry her to her ends, must know His tides, his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/each-petty-hand-can-steer-a-ship-becalm-d-but-he-that-will-govern-and/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The way to rise is to obey and please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-jonson/the-way-to-rise-is-to-obey-and-please/) [Ben Jonson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-jonson/) > [The covetous man never has money. 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