Bluntness Quote by William Shakespeare
“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 can't flatter, he! An honest mind and plain,--he must speak truth! And they will take it so; if not he's plain. These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness Harbor more craft, and far corrupter ends, Than twenty silly, ducking observants, That stretch their duty nicely.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Comedy of Errors (attributed), 1594
A character is praised for blunt honesty, yet his straightforwardness hides cunning and can be more dangerous than deceitful flattery.
In simple terms: Honesty can conceal manipulation; plain speech may mask deeper schemes.
Key Takeaway
Question motives behind blunt speech.
Themes
honesty
deception
power
communication
trust
Mood
critical
thoughtful
analytical
Type
dramatic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political negotiation
- personal relationships
- media commentary
- leadership training
Key Concepts
rhetoric
social dynamics
ethical speech
Questions to Reflect On
- When does frankness become harmful?
- How can we discern truth in direct speech?
A Different Perspective
Bluntness can be weaponized, leading to mistrust.
![“...[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/img-quotes/a83/socrates-405_bluntness_f-rom-me-you-shall-hear-the-whole-truth_982365.jpg)
