--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...[F]rom me you shall hear the whole…" description: "\"“...[F]rom me you shall hear the whole truth; not, I can assure you, gentlemen, in flowery language... decked out with fine words and phrases; no, what..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/socrates-405_bluntness_f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth_982365.jpg" --- # ...\[F\]rom me you shall hear the whole truth; not, I can… ![“...[F]rom me you shall hear the whole truth; not, I can assure you, gentlemen, in flowery language... decked out with fine words and phrases; no, what you will hear will be a straightforward speech in the first words that occur to me, confident as I am in the justice of my cause; and I do not want…” quote by Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/socrates-405_bluntness_f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth_982365.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/socrates-405_bluntness_f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth_982365.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/socrates-405_bluntness_f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth_982365.jpg) > ““...\[F\]rom me you shall hear the whole truth; not, I can assure you, gentlemen, in flowery language... decked out with fine words and phrases; no, what you will hear will be a straightforward speech in the first words that occur to me, confident as I am in the justice of my cause; and I do not want any of you to expect anything different.”” [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocating for plain, honest speech over ornate language. **In simple terms:** Prefer straightforward truth over fancy words. Key Takeaway Speak clearly and confidently about your cause. Themes honesty clarity persuasion Mood direct serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - public speaking - debate - leadership Key Concepts rhetoric integrity Questions to Reflect On - When is rhetorical flourish useful? - How to balance clarity and depth? A Different Perspective Simplicity may lack nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bluntness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bluntness/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Tact](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tact/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [“The veil that clouds your eyes shall be lifted by the hands that wove it, And the clay that fills your ears shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/the-veil-that-clouds-your-eyes-shall-be-lifted-by-the-hands-that-wove/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Still from the sire the son shall hear Of the stern strife, and carnage drear, Of Flodden's fatal field, When shiver'd was fair Scotland's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/still-from-the-sire-the-son-shall-hear-of-the-stern-strife-and/) [Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/) > [Only who choose to see shall see. Only who choose to hear shall hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-julesstar/only-who-choose-to-see-shall-see-only-who-choose-to-hear-shall-hear/) [Andrew Julesstar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-julesstar/) > [I shall hear in heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-van-beethoven/i-shall-hear-in-heaven/) [Ludwig van Beethoven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-van-beethoven/) > [Fame is an empty noise. Let us put our ears to the centuries that have gone: we no longer hear anything; those who, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-antoine-de-saint-just/fame-is-an-empty-noise-let-us-put-our-ears-to-the-centuries-that-have/) [Louis Antoine de Saint-Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-antoine-de-saint-just/) > [If you and I shall, like the believing shepherds, watch and long for His appearing, one day we, too, shall hear a music grander…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abbott-eliot-kittredge/if-you-and-i-shall-like-the-believing-shepherds-watch-and-long-for/) [Abbott Eliot Kittredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abbott-eliot-kittredge/) > [The higher we go, the better we shall hear the voice of Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pier-giorgio-frassati/the-higher-we-go-the-better-we-shall-hear-the-voice-of-christ/) [Pier Giorgio Frassati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pier-giorgio-frassati/) > [My hour at last has come; Yet not ingloriously or passively I die, but first will do some valiant deed, Of which mankind shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/my-hour-at-last-has-come-yet-not-ingloriously-or-passively-i-die-but/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [Say you are well, or all is well with you, and God shall hear your words and make them true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/say-you-are-well-or-all-is-well-with-you-and-god-shall-hear-your/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [What should we speak of When we are old as you? when we shall hear The rain and wind beat dark December? how, In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-should-we-speak-of-when-we-are-old-as-you-when-we-shall-hear-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Now, the whole world hears Or shall hear,--surely shall hear, at the last, Though men delay, and doubt, and faint, and fail,-- That promise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-arnold/now-the-whole-world-hears-or-shall-hear-surely-shall-hear-at-the-last/) [Matthew Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-arnold/) > [But I shall hear without pain, that I play the courtier very ill, and talk of that which I do not well understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/but-i-shall-hear-without-pain-that-i-play-the-courtier-very-ill-and/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/my-voice-you-shall-hear-in-the-morning-o-lord/) [Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/) > [There is guidance for each of us, and by lowly listening we shall hear the right word...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/there-is-guidance-for-each-of-us-and-by-lowly-listening-we-shall-hear/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I take this for myself, and you take up the thread of my life between your teeth, tin thread and tarnished with abuse, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-o-hara/i-take-this-for-myself-and-you-take-up-the-thread-of-my-life-between/) [Frank O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-o-hara/) ## More by Socrates > [By all means marry; if you get a good wife, you'll be happy. If you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/by-all-means-marry-if-you-get-a-good-wife-you-ll-be-happy-if-you-get/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/falling-down-is-not-a-failure-failure-comes-when-you-stay-where-you/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Do not go through life like leaf blown from here to there believing whatever you are told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/do-not-go-through-life-like-leaf-blown-from-here-to-there-believing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If the whole world depends on today's youth, I can't see the world lasting another 100 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-the-whole-world-depends-on-today-s-youth-i-can-t-see-the-world/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“I only know, I know nothing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-only-know-i-know-nothing/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-cannot-teach-anybody-anything-i-can-only-make-them-think/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [If measure and symmetry are absent from any composition in any degree, ruin awaits both the ingredients and the composition... Measure and symmetry are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/if-measure-and-symmetry-are-absent-from-any-composition-in-any-degree/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Marry a good woman, and be happy the rest of your life. Or, marry a bad, and become a good philosopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/marry-a-good-woman-and-be-happy-the-rest-of-your-life-or-marry-a-bad/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [“For the fear of death is indeed the pretense of wisdom, and not real wisdom, being a pretense of knowing the unknown; and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/for-the-fear-of-death-is-indeed-the-pretense-of-wisdom-and-not-real/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [There is no difference between knowledge and temperance; for he who knows what is good and embraces it, who knows what is bad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/there-is-no-difference-between-knowledge-and-temperance-for-he-who/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [Besides, it is a shame to let yourself grow old through neglect before seeing how you can develop the maximum beauty and strength of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/besides-it-is-a-shame-to-let-yourself-grow-old-through-neglect-before/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The greatest blessing granted to mankind come by way of madness, which is a divine gift.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-greatest-blessing-granted-to-mankind-come-by-way-of-madness-which/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I desire only to know the truth, and to live as well as I can...And, to the utmost of my power, I exhort all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-desire-only-to-know-the-truth-and-to-live-as-well-as-i-can-and-to/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [So you would rather suffer an injustice than do an injustice?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/so-you-would-rather-suffer-an-injustice-than-do-an-injustice/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [The end of life is to be like unto God; and the soul following God, will be like unto Him; He being the beginning,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/the-end-of-life-is-to-be-like-unto-god-and-the-soul-following-god/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) [Explore all 579 Socrates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) ## More Bluntness quotes > [“You can find anyone that will tell you what you want to hear, but the only one worth valuing is the one that tells…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/you-can-find-anyone-that-will-tell-you-what-you-want-to-hear-but-the/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“It is rather pitiful how obvious it is, and usually how simple it can be, for one to be blunt and critical, all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/it-is-rather-pitiful-how-obvious-it-is-and-usually-how-simple-it-can/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [To be a good manager of people requires both fairness and bluntness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/to-be-a-good-manager-of-people-requires-both-fairness-and-bluntness/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [“Why does every deliberately cruel person describe themselves as the perfect example of necessary bluntness?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/why-does-every-deliberately-cruel-person-describe-themselves-as-the/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [You’re here.” “I am.” Jason boldly took in the way she looked. “I take it you don’t often wear that dress in court.” “Probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/you-re-here-i-am-jason-boldly-took-in-the-way-she-looked-i-take-it/) [Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/) > [“You don't mince words." "Just garlic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/you-don-t-mince-words-just-garlic/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [“And why does every deliberately cruel person seem to consider themselves the perfect example of necessary bluntness? As if you're supposed to thank them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mia-sheridan/and-why-does-every-deliberately-cruel-person-seem-to-consider/) [Mia Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mia-sheridan/) > [I have a reputation for speaking my mind. I like to think my candor and bluntness will give you the answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-o-brennan/i-have-a-reputation-for-speaking-my-mind-i-like-to-think-my-candor/) [John O. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-o-brennan/) > [I stand behind what I say. If I don't want it to be out there then I won't say it. I am not out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-visage/i-stand-behind-what-i-say-if-i-don-t-want-it-to-be-out-there-then-i/) [Michelle Visage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-visage/) > [“I love her with all my soul. Why, she is a child! She's a child now — a real child. Oh! you know nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/i-love-her-with-all-my-soul-why-she-is-a-child-she-s-a-child-now-a/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [He cocked his head to the side. "Did he die well?" "He died screaming." Charlotte's bluntness startled Tessa. "What a beautiful thing to hear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/he-cocked-his-head-to-the-side-did-he-die-well-he-died-screaming/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“A person who holds strong convictions might appear inflexible, impolite, or exceptionally obtuse, when they are merely direct.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/a-person-who-holds-strong-convictions-might-appear-inflexible/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [This is some fellow, Who having been prais'd for bluntness, doth affect A saucy roughness and constrains the garb Quite from his nature: he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/this-is-some-fellow-who-having-been-prais-d-for-bluntness-doth-affect/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes,” Sicarius said. “We must act alone. And soon. You may be dead by morning.” “Have I mentioned how endearing your bluntness is?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-buroker/yes-sicarius-said-we-must-act-alone-and-soon-you-may-be-dead-by/) [Lindsay Buroker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-buroker/) > [If you dont find the right set of eyes to see through your bull, you will always be surrounded by friends that will tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-dont-find-the-right-set-of-eyes-to-see-through-your-bull-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 26 Bluntness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bluntness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...[F]rom me you shall hear the whole truth; not, I can assure you, gentlemen, in flowery language... decked out with fine words and phrases; no, what you will hear will be a straightforward speech in the first words that occur to me, confident as I am in the justice of my cause; and I do not want any of you to expect anything different.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Socrates" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth-not-i-can-assure-you/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bluntness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth-not-i-can-assure-you/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/socrates-405_bluntness_f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth_982365.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/socrates-405_bluntness_f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth_982365.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a83/socrates-405_bluntness_f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth_982365.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“...[F]rom me you shall hear the whole truth; not, I can assure you, gentlemen, in flowery language... decked…” — Socrates", "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": "Socrates", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“...[F]rom me you shall hear the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth-not-i-can-assure-you/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth-not-i-can-assure-you/#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 } } ] } ```