Every man Quote by William Shakespeare
““Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportioned thought his act. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar; Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel, But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatched unfledged comrade. Beware Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in, Bear’t that th’opposèd may beware of thee. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgement. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy; For the apparel oft proclaims the man, And they in France of the best rank and station Are most select and generous, chief in that. Neither a borrower nor a lender be, For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine own self be true; And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.””
About This Quote
Source Play: Hamlet, Act I, Scene 3, 1601
Advice to practice restraint in speech, friendships, and finances, and to stay true to oneself; avoid vanity, conflict, and overextension.
In simple terms: Be cautious, honest, and self‑reliant.
Live authentically and wisely.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- career decisions
- financial planning
- conflict management
- friendship building
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance honesty with diplomacy?
- When should you share your opinions?
May be overly idealistic for complex modern social dynamics.