--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: O my brethren! I have told Most bitter…" description: "\"“O my brethren! I have told Most bitter truth, but without bitterness. Nor deem my zeal fractious or mistimed; For never can true courage dwell with th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_bitter-truth_o-my-brethren-i-have-told-most-bitter-tr_264160.jpg" --- # O my brethren! I have told Most bitter truth, but without… ![“O my brethren! I have told Most bitter truth, but without bitterness. Nor deem my zeal fractious or mistimed; For never can true courage dwell with them Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.” quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_bitter-truth_o-my-brethren-i-have-told-most-bitter-tr_264160.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_bitter-truth_o-my-brethren-i-have-told-most-bitter-tr_264160.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/740/samuel-taylor-coleridge-425_bitter-truth_o-my-brethren-i-have-told-most-bitter-tr_264160.jpg) > ““O my brethren! I have told Most bitter truth, but without bitterness. Nor deem my zeal fractious or mistimed; For never can true courage dwell with them Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.”” [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## 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 declares he speaks harsh truths without malice, urging true courage to confront personal vices rather than hide behind conscience tricks. **In simple terms:** Speak truth without bitterness and confront your own flaws. Key Takeaway Embrace honest self‑examination. Themes courage self‑reflection integrity Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal growth - leadership - ethical decision‑making Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - What vices do you conceal? - How can honest speech foster growth? A Different Perspective Courage can be stifled by fear of self‑exposure. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bitter truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bitter-truth/) [Brethren Told](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brethren-told-2596442/) [Conscience Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience-dare-342791/) [True courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-courage/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Truth Bitterness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth-bitterness-2596441/) ## Related quotes > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no friendship without self-interests. 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Great books are not in everybody's reach; and though it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/why-are-not-more-gems-from-our-great-authors-scattered-over-the/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Life went a-maying With Nature, Hope, and Poesy, When I was young!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/life-went-a-maying-with-nature-hope-and-poesy-when-i-was-young/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [No voice; but oh - the silence sank Like music on my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/no-voice-but-oh-the-silence-sank-like-music-on-my-heart/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [The three great ends which a statesman ought to propose to himself in the government of a nation, are 1. Security to possessors; 2.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/the-three-great-ends-which-a-statesman-ought-to-propose-to-himself-in/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [“We in ourselves rejoice! And thence flows all that charms or ear or sight, All melodies the echoes of that voice, All colours a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/we-in-ourselves-rejoice-and-thence-flows-all-that-charms-or-ear-or/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) [Explore all 570 Samuel Taylor Coleridge quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) ## More Bitter truth quotes > [“The deeper the pain you have, the more you hide it. I am sure I am not the only one who has suffered. 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