--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you cannot understand my argument, and…" description: "\"“If you cannot understand my argument, and declare \"It's Greek to me\", you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned against than sinning..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/bernard-levin-31024_better-days_if-you-cannot-understand-my-argument-and_681608.jpg" --- # If you cannot understand my argument, and declare "It's… ![“If you cannot understand my argument, and declare "It's Greek to me", you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you recall your salad days, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you act more in sorrow than in anger; if your wish is…” quote by Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/bernard-levin-31024_better-days_if-you-cannot-understand-my-argument-and_681608.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/bernard-levin-31024_better-days_if-you-cannot-understand-my-argument-and_681608.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b29/bernard-levin-31024_better-days_if-you-cannot-understand-my-argument-and_681608.jpg) > ““If you cannot understand my argument, and declare "It's Greek to me", you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you recall your salad days, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you act more in sorrow than in anger; if your wish is farther to the thought; if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you have been tongue-tied, a tower of strength, hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knitted your brows, made a virtue of necessity, insisted on fair play, slept not one wink, stood on ceremony, danced attendance (on your lord and master), laughed yourself into stitches, had short shrift, cold comfort or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days or lived in a fool's paradise -why, be that as it may, the more fool you , for it is a foregone conclusion that you are (as good luck would have it) quoting Shakespeare; if you think it is early days and clear out bag and baggage, if you think it is high time and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up and that truth will out even if it involves your own flesh and blood, if you lie low till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play, if you have your teeth set on edge (at one fell swoop) without rhyme or reason, then - to give the devil his due - if the truth were known (for surely you have a tongue in your head) you are quoting Shakespeare; even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing, if you wish I was dead as a door-nail, if you think I am an eyesore, a laughing stock, the devil incarnate, a stony-hearted villain, bloody-minded or a blinking idiot, then - by Jove! O Lord! Tut tut! For goodness' sake! What the dickens! But me no buts! - it is all one to me, for you are quoting Shakespeare.”” [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage lists countless idioms and expressions that originate from Shakespeare, illustrating how pervasive his language is in everyday speech. **In simple terms:** Shakespeare's phrases are everywhere in daily language. Key Takeaway Recognize Shakespearean origins in common sayings. Themes language culture literature history communication Mood playful reflective informative Type cultural educational humorous When to use this quote - daily conversation - writing - teaching literature - public speaking - media analysis Key Concepts intertextuality quotation influence Questions to Reflect On - Which phrases do you use without knowing their origin? - How does knowing a phrase's source change its impact? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on Shakespeare may overlook other sources of idioms. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Better day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-day/) [Fair play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fair-play/) [Flesh and blood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flesh-and-blood/) [Good riddance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-riddance/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shakespeare/) ## Related quotes > [“Quoting Shakespeare doesn't make you an intellectual. It just makes you a fan of Shakespeare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-n-fair/quoting-shakespeare-doesn-t-make-you-an-intellectual-it-just-makes/) Kevin N. Fair > [T. Ray said 'Who do you think you are? Julias Shakespeare?' The man sincerely thought that was Shakespeare's first name, and if you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/t-ray-said-who-do-you-think-you-are-julias-shakespeare-the-man/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [I hate Shakespeare. I think Shakespeare's rubbish.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-hate-shakespeare-i-think-shakespeare-s-rubbish/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There have only been two authentic geniuses in the world, Willie Mays and Willie Shakespeare and I think you'd better put Shakespeare first, darling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tallulah-bankhead/there-have-only-been-two-authentic-geniuses-in-the-world-willie-mays/) [Tallulah Bankhead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tallulah-bankhead/) > [There are those who think that Zeffirelli's Hamlet is the way to treat Shakespeare. I think that cinema can handle much more. We somehow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/there-are-those-who-think-that-zeffirelli-s-hamlet-is-the-way-to/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [Shakespeare's always been sitting on my back, since I began reading. And, certainly, as a writer, he's who I hear all the time. 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So he backs away, shaking his head, and then turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-huss/he-s-very-aware-that-everyone-has-stopped-what-they-re-doing-to-watch/) [J.A. Huss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-huss/) > [“This much is sure: as the humanemeconomy asserts its own power, it's own logic, and it's essential decency, an an older order is passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-pacelle/this-much-is-sure-as-the-humanemeconomy-asserts-its-own-power-it-s/) [Wayne Pacelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-pacelle/) > [“Dude. Let it go. Good riddance to bad rubbers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/dude-let-it-go-good-riddance-to-bad-rubbers/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [If someone leaves you because of a flaw or small problem they're immature, and they are definitely wrong for you. So, good riddance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/if-someone-leaves-you-because-of-a-flaw-or-small-problem-they-re/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) ## More by Bernard Levin > [The cure for mixed metaphors, I have always found, is for the patient to be obliged to draw a picture of the result.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/the-cure-for-mixed-metaphors-i-have-always-found-is-for-the-patient/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [The less the power, the greater the desire to exercise it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/the-less-the-power-the-greater-the-desire-to-exercise-it/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [Countries like ours are full of people who have all of the material comforts they desire, yet lead lives of quiet (and at times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/countries-like-ours-are-full-of-people-who-have-all-of-the-material/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [It is assumed that when anyone gets into debt, the fault is entirely and always the fault of the lender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-levin/it-is-assumed-that-when-anyone-gets-into-debt-the-fault-is-entirely/) [Bernard Levin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-levin/) > [Once, when a British Prime Minister sneezed, men half a world away would blow their noses. 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Reminding me of better days and the days of tomorrow”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-v-songer/in-every-rainstorm-it-s-your-scream-that-i-hear-after-every-lightning/) [Austin V. Songer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-v-songer/) > [After awhile you just can't cry anymore. You just have to believe that what happens is what's supposed to happen and you can't change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/after-awhile-you-just-can-t-cry-anymore-you-just-have-to-believe-that/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Love being in such a positive atmosphere! It's always makes for a better day!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-being-in-such-a-positive-atmosphere-it-s-always-makes-for-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A little reminder I needed today as I dive deeper into this incredible publishing journey. Surround yourself with those who lift you higher, believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-rosa/a-little-reminder-i-needed-today-as-i-dive-deeper-into-this/) Paula Rosa > [A liberal is a man or a woman or a child who looks forward to a better day, a more tranquil night, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-bernstein/a-liberal-is-a-man-or-a-woman-or-a-child-who-looks-forward-to-a/) [Leonard Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-bernstein/) > [Better days are coming they are called Saturday & Sunday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/better-days-are-coming-they-are-called-saturday-sunday/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [I tell myself that tomorrow holds better days but it just never really happens anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-tell-myself-that-tomorrow-holds-better-days-but-it-just-never/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Hope -- Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope! In the end, that is Gods…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/hope-hope-in-the-face-of-difficulty-hope-in-the-face-of-uncertainty/) [BARACK OBAMA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A day of bad writing is always better than a day of no writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-roff/a-day-of-bad-writing-is-always-better-than-a-day-of-no-writing/) [Don Roff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-roff/) > [The future is no place to place your better days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-future-is-no-place-to-place-your-better-days/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“When you're lying in bed at night and regrets from the day come to steal your sleep... "I should have" "If only I'd" "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-r-knost/when-you-re-lying-in-bed-at-night-and-regrets-from-the-day-come-to/) [L.R. Knost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-r-knost/) [Browse all 375 Better day quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/better-day/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If you cannot understand my argument, and declare \"It's Greek to me\", you are quoting Shakespeare; if you claim to be more sinned against than sinning, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you recall your salad days, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you act more in sorrow than in anger; if your wish is farther to the thought; if your lost property has vanished into thin air, you are quoting Shakespeare; if you have ever refused to budge an inch or suffered from green-eyed jealousy, if you have played fast and loose, if you have been tongue-tied, a tower of strength, hoodwinked or in a pickle, if you have knitted your brows, made a virtue of necessity, insisted on fair play, slept not one wink, stood on ceremony, danced attendance (on your lord and master), laughed yourself into stitches, had short shrift, cold comfort or too much of a good thing, if you have seen better days or lived in a fool's paradise -why, be that as it may, the more fool you , for it is a foregone conclusion that you are (as good luck would have it) quoting Shakespeare; if you think it is early days and clear out bag and baggage, if you think it is high time and that that is the long and short of it, if you believe that the game is up and that truth will out even if it involves your own flesh and blood, if you lie low till the crack of doom because you suspect foul play, if you have your teeth set on edge (at one fell swoop) without rhyme or reason, then - to give the devil his due - if the truth were known (for surely you have a tongue in your head) you are quoting Shakespeare; even if you bid me good riddance and send me packing, if you wish I was dead as a door-nail, if you think I am an eyesore, a laughing stock, the devil incarnate, a stony-hearted villain, bloody-minded or a blinking idiot, then - by Jove! 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