--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Honest men are the soft easy cushions on…" description: "\"Honest men are the soft easy cushions on which knaves repose and fatten.\" — Thomas Otway" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thomas-otway-16151_easy_honest-men-are-the-soft-easy-cushions-on_2075275.png" --- # Honest men are the soft easy cushions on which knaves… ![“Honest men are the soft easy cushions on which knaves repose and fatten.” quote by Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thomas-otway-16151_easy_honest-men-are-the-soft-easy-cushions-on_2075275.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thomas-otway-16151_easy_honest-men-are-the-soft-easy-cushions-on_2075275.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thomas-otway-16151_easy_honest-men-are-the-soft-easy-cushions-on_2075275.png) > “Honest men are the soft easy cushions on which knaves repose and fatten.” [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Honest people become comfortable supports for deceitful ones, enabling exploitation. **In simple terms:** Honesty can be exploited. Key Takeaway Set boundaries to protect yourself. Themes trust exploitation integrity Mood cautionary reflective Type dramatic philosophical When to use this quote - business partnership - friendship - family dynamics - political alliances Key Concepts ethics social dynamics power Questions to Reflect On - Who benefits from your honesty? - How can you balance trust and caution? A Different Perspective Over‑trusting may lead to vulnerability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honesty/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [We've the new hard-steel, though why they're all so hot to pay twice the price when men're soft as clay and even wood will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-morris/we-ve-the-new-hard-steel-though-why-they-re-all-so-hot-to-pay-twice/) [Janet Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-morris/) > [In the mouths of many men soft words are like roses that soldiers put into the muzzles of their muskets on holidays.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/in-the-mouths-of-many-men-soft-words-are-like-roses-that-soldiers-put/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Titles are marks of honest men, and wise; The fool or knave that wears a title lies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-young/titles-are-marks-of-honest-men-and-wise-the-fool-or-knave-that-wears/) [Edward Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-young/) > [You talk to me in parables. You may have known that I'm no wordy man, Fine speeches are the instruments of knaves Or fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/you-talk-to-me-in-parables-you-may-have-known-that-i-m-no-wordy-man/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Avoid the politic, the factious fool, The busy, buzzing, talking harden'd knave; The quaint smooth rogue that sins against his reason, Calls saucy loud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/avoid-the-politic-the-factious-fool-the-busy-buzzing-talking-harden-d/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [No flattery, boy! an honest man cannot live by it; it is a little, sneaking art, which knaves use to cajole and soften fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/no-flattery-boy-an-honest-man-cannot-live-by-it-it-is-a-little/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Politicians are a set of men who have interests aside from the interests of the people and who, to say the most of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/politicians-are-a-set-of-men-who-have-interests-aside-from-the/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [It is curious - but you cannot make a revolution without honest men. ... Every revolution has had its honest men. 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Fisher > [Tobacco is the passion of honest men and he who lives without tobacco is not worthy of living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/tobacco-is-the-passion-of-honest-men-and-he-who-lives-without-tobacco/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) ## More by Thomas Otway > [Love reigns a very tyrant in my heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/love-reigns-a-very-tyrant-in-my-heart/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [No flattery, boy! an honest man cannot live by it; it is a little, sneaking art, which knaves use to cajole and soften fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/no-flattery-boy-an-honest-man-cannot-live-by-it-it-is-a-little/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [You wags that judge by rote, and damn by rule.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/you-wags-that-judge-by-rote-and-damn-by-rule/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Who's a prince or beggar in the grave?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/who-s-a-prince-or-beggar-in-the-grave/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [The poor sleep little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/the-poor-sleep-little/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [O woman! lovely woman! Nature made thee To temper man: we had been brutes without you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/o-woman-lovely-woman-nature-made-thee-to-temper-man-we-had-been/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [And for an apple damn'd mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/and-for-an-apple-damn-d-mankind/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Children blessings seem, but torments are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/children-blessings-seem-but-torments-are/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Let us embrace, and from this very moment vow an eternal misery together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/let-us-embrace-and-from-this-very-moment-vow-an-eternal-misery/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [There is such sweet pain in parting that I could hang forever on thine arms, and look away my life into thine eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/there-is-such-sweet-pain-in-parting-that-i-could-hang-forever-on/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [If we must part for ever, Give me but one kind word to think upon, And please myself withal, whilst my heart's breaking!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/if-we-must-part-for-ever-give-me-but-one-kind-word-to-think-upon-and/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Greatness, thou gaudy torment of out souls, The wise man's fetter, and the rage of fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/greatness-thou-gaudy-torment-of-out-souls-the-wise-man-s-fetter-and/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [And die with decency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/and-die-with-decency/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Base natures ever judge a thing above them, and hate a power they are too much obliged to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/base-natures-ever-judge-a-thing-above-them-and-hate-a-power-they-are/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) > [Oh woman! lovely woman! nature made thee To temper man; we had been brutes without you; Angels are painted fair to look like you;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/oh-woman-lovely-woman-nature-made-thee-to-temper-man-we-had-been/) [Thomas Otway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) [Explore all 40 Thomas Otway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/) ## More Easy quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. 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Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/) Browse all 14,306 Easy quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Honest men are the soft easy cushions on which knaves repose and fatten.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Otway" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/honest-men-are-the-soft-easy-cushions-on-which-knaves-repose-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Easy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/honest-men-are-the-soft-easy-cushions-on-which-knaves-repose-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thomas-otway-16151_easy_honest-men-are-the-soft-easy-cushions-on_2075275.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thomas-otway-16151_easy_honest-men-are-the-soft-easy-cushions-on_2075275.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ee1/thomas-otway-16151_easy_honest-men-are-the-soft-easy-cushions-on_2075275.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Honest men are the soft easy cushions on which knaves repose and fatten.” — Thomas Otway", "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": "Thomas Otway", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-otway/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Honest men are the soft easy...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/honest-men-are-the-soft-easy-cushions-on-which-knaves-repose-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-otway/honest-men-are-the-soft-easy-cushions-on-which-knaves-repose-and/#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 } } ] } ```