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Devil Quote by William Shakespeare

“No man means evil but the devil, and we shall know him by his horns.” quote by William Shakespeare
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“No man means evil but the devil, and we shall know him by his horns.”

William Shakespeare

About This Quote

Source Play: Henry IV, Part 1, 1597

Evil is personified by the devil; recognizing it requires seeing its obvious signs.

In simple terms: Evil appears as the devil, identifiable by its “horns”.

Key Takeaway

Identify and confront obvious wrongdoing.

Themes

morality evil recognition

Mood

thoughtful cautionary

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

  • legal judgments
  • ethical decision‑making
  • personal integrity

Key Concepts

symbolism personification

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do we spot hidden evil?
  • Can symbols mislead our judgments?
A Different Perspective

Not all wrongdoing is obvious; subtle harms exist.

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