--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Faith, if the truth were known, I was…" description: "\"“Faith, if the truth were known, I was begot After some gluttonous dinner; some stirring dish Was my first father. When deep healths went round, And la..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/thomas-middleton-26710_faith_faith-if-the-truth-were-known-i-was-bego_676196.jpg" --- # Faith, if the truth were known, I was begot After some… ![“Faith, if the truth were known, I was begot After some gluttonous dinner; some stirring dish Was my first father. When deep healths went round, And ladies' cheeks were painted red with wine, Their tongues as short and nimble as their heels, Uttering words sweet and thick, and when they rose Were…” quote by Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/thomas-middleton-26710_faith_faith-if-the-truth-were-known-i-was-bego_676196.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/thomas-middleton-26710_faith_faith-if-the-truth-were-known-i-was-bego_676196.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc2/thomas-middleton-26710_faith_faith-if-the-truth-were-known-i-was-bego_676196.jpg) > ““Faith, if the truth were known, I was begot After some gluttonous dinner; some stirring dish Was my first father. When deep healths went round, And ladies' cheeks were painted red with wine, Their tongues as short and nimble as their heels, Uttering words sweet and thick, and when they rose Were marrily disposed to fall again: Oh, damnation met The sin of feasts, drunken adultery! I feel it swell me; my revenge is just: I was begot in impudent wine and lust (...) As for my brother, the duke's only son, Whose birth is more beholding to report Than mine, and yet perhaps as falsely sown, I'll loose my days upon him, hate all I.”” [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lament of excess, guilt, and rivalry, where the speaker blames wine and lust for his downfall and envies his brother’s better fate. **In simple terms:** Excess leads to ruin and envy. Key Takeaway Recognize and curb destructive habits. Themes guilt envy excess Mood regretful intense Type dramatic confessional When to use this quote - personal confession - family rivalry - moral warning Key Concepts tragedy human frailty Questions to Reflect On - What habits are sabotaging your life? - How does envy shape your actions? A Different Perspective The speaker’s self‑blame may ignore broader societal pressures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [There is a spirit which I feel that delights to do no evil, nor to revenge any wrong, but delights to endure all things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nayler/there-is-a-spirit-which-i-feel-that-delights-to-do-no-evil-nor-to/) James Nayler > [I am not vindictive, but very forgiving. Despite being wronged, I never took revenge on anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rituparna-sengupta/i-am-not-vindictive-but-very-forgiving-despite-being-wronged-i-never/) [Rituparna Sengupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rituparna-sengupta/) > [As I predicted, young people who overwhelmingly didn't want Brexit have turned out in their droves and exacted revenge on a generation of Leavers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-soubry/as-i-predicted-young-people-who-overwhelmingly-didn-t-want-brexit/) [Anna Soubry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-soubry/) > [But I believed in starting over. There was finally, I knew, only rupture and hurt and falling short between all persons, but, Shirley, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/but-i-believed-in-starting-over-there-was-finally-i-knew-only-rupture/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/the-best-revenge-is-to-be-unlike-him-who-performed-the-injury/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [If someone steals my man, there's no better revenge than letting her keep him. A real man can't be stolen unless he wants to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/if-someone-steals-my-man-there-s-no-better-revenge-than-letting-her/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [If you put together all the ingredients that naturally attract children - sex, violence, revenge, spectacle and vigorous noise - what you have is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/if-you-put-together-all-the-ingredients-that-naturally-attract/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Convulsive anger storms at large; or pale And silent, settles into full revenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-tillotson/convulsive-anger-storms-at-large-or-pale-and-silent-settles-into-full/) [John Tillotson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-tillotson/) > [How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/how-could-a-readiness-for-war-in-time-of-peace-be-safely-prohibited/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs. With this creed, revenge never worries my heart, degradation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/life-appears-to-me-too-short-to-be-spent-in-nursing-animosity-or/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, consult how we may henceforth most offend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/and-re-assembling-our-afflicted-powers-consult-how-we-may-henceforth/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [The best revenge in the world is success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suge-knight/the-best-revenge-in-the-world-is-success/) [Suge Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suge-knight/) > [Revenge is a dish better severed cold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan/revenge-is-a-dish-better-severed-cold/) [Sushan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan/) > [“The best way to take revenge of me is to make me see you successful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/the-best-way-to-take-revenge-of-me-is-to-make-me-see-you-successful/) [P.S. Jagadeesh Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-s-jagadeesh-kumar/) > [“the human is offered a choice: they can get revenge on me, or they can accept their pain and continue their journey”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wade/the-human-is-offered-a-choice-they-can-get-revenge-on-me-or-they-can/) [Tobias Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wade/) ## More by Thomas Middleton > [“I much applaud thy judgement; thou art well-read in a fellow. And 'tis the deepest art to study man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/i-much-applaud-thy-judgement-thou-art-well-read-in-a-fellow-and-tis/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [Though I be poor, I'm honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/though-i-be-poor-i-m-honest/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [“Money! Ho, ho! 'T'as been my want so long, 'tis now my scoff. I've e'en forgot what colour silver's of.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/money-ho-ho-t-as-been-my-want-so-long-tis-now-my-scoff-i-ve-e-en/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [“Castiza: "False! I defy you both! I have endured you with an ear of fire; Your tongues have struck hot irons on my face!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/castiza-false-i-defy-you-both-i-have-endured-you-with-an-ear-of-fire/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [A little too wise, they say, do ne'er live long.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/a-little-too-wise-they-say-do-ne-er-live-long/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [“Has not heaven an ear? Is all the lightning wasted?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/has-not-heaven-an-ear-is-all-the-lightning-wasted/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [When affection only speaks, truth is not always there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/when-affection-only-speaks-truth-is-not-always-there/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [“Good, happy, swift; there's gunpowder i'th' court, Wildfire at midnight in this heedless fury.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/good-happy-swift-there-s-gunpowder-i-th-court-wildfire-at-midnight-in/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [Anything for a quiet life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/anything-for-a-quiet-life/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [“Lussurioso: "Welcome, be not far off, we must be better acquainted. Push, be bold with us, thy hand!" Vindice: "With all my heart, i'faith.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/lussurioso-welcome-be-not-far-off-we-must-be-better-acquainted-push/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [“As fast as they peep up let's cut 'em down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/as-fast-as-they-peep-up-let-s-cut-em-down/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [“How sweetly she looks! O, but there's a wrinkle in her brow as deep as philosophy. - Anacreon, drink to my mistress' health, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/how-sweetly-she-looks-o-but-there-s-a-wrinkle-in-her-brow-as-deep-as/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [“Let me feel how thy pulses beat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/let-me-feel-how-thy-pulses-beat/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [“Ha! What news here? Is the day out a' th' socket That it is noon at midnight? The court up?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/ha-what-news-here-is-the-day-out-a-th-socket-that-it-is-noon-at/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) > [“The slowest kiss makes too much haste.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-middleton/the-slowest-kiss-makes-too-much-haste/) [Thomas Middleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) [Explore all 21 Thomas Middleton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-middleton/) ## More Faith quotes > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Keep the faith, and keep going strong!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/keep-the-faith-and-keep-going-strong/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [“No man is prejudiced in favour of a thing, knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it on the belief of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/no-man-is-prejudiced-in-favour-of-a-thing-knowing-it-to-be-wrong-he/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Holiness sincerity, and faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/holiness-sincerity-and-faith/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“The only limitations for your life are the limiting beliefs in your mind. —Matt Morris”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-morris-1/the-only-limitations-for-your-life-are-the-limiting-beliefs-in-your/) Matt Morris (1 > [“Just because your faith is shaken doesn’t mean the faith is shaken. The eternal truths of the Kingdom aren’t altered or affected by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/just-because-your-faith-is-shaken-doesn-t-mean-the-faith-is-shaken/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [Grit, determination, the right amount of crazy, self belief - everything it takes to be a champion. I have that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-poirier/grit-determination-the-right-amount-of-crazy-self-belief-everything/) [Dustin Poirier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-poirier/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) [Browse all 37,796 Faith quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Faith, if the truth were known, I was begot After some gluttonous dinner; some stirring dish Was my first father. When deep healths went round, And ladies' cheeks were painted red with wine, Their tongues as short and nimble as their heels, Uttering words sweet and thick, and when they rose Were marrily disposed to fall again: Oh, damnation met The sin of feasts, drunken adultery! I feel it swell me; my revenge is just: I was begot in impudent wine and lust (...) 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