--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's…" description: "\"“Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end: he keeps them, lik..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/william-shakespeare-4_quote_ay-sir-that-soaks-up-the-king-s-countena_2236719.jpg" --- # Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his… ![“Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed: when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge…” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/william-shakespeare-4_quote_ay-sir-that-soaks-up-the-king-s-countena_2236719.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/william-shakespeare-4_quote_ay-sir-that-soaks-up-the-king-s-countena_2236719.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/william-shakespeare-4_quote_ay-sir-that-soaks-up-the-king-s-countena_2236719.jpg) > ““Ay, sir, that soaks up the king's countenance, his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed: when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again.”” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Flattery and manipulation serve the king’s interests, but ultimately the flatterer is used and discarded **In simple terms:** Flatterers are useful then abandoned Key Takeaway Beware of those who only seek personal gain Themes power betrayal court intrigue Mood cautionary reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - political negotiations - corporate lobbying - personal relationships Key Concepts manipulation self‑interest Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate insincere praise? - How can leaders balance counsel and caution? A Different Perspective Flattery can backfire and damage trust ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king/) [King Countenance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/king-countenance-5053361/) [Officers King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/officers-king-5053358/) [Sir Soaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sir-soaks-5053360/) [Soaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soaks-1515331/) [Soaks King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soaks-king-5053359/) ## Related quotes > [“Beauty soaks reality as water fills a rag.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chet-raymo/beauty-soaks-reality-as-water-fills-a-rag/) [Chet Raymo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chet-raymo/) > [Advice is like rain that soaks everything without being sought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-brook/advice-is-like-rain-that-soaks-everything-without-being-sought/) [Timothy Brook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-brook/) > [Every movie soaks into you for a certain amount of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/every-movie-soaks-into-you-for-a-certain-amount-of-time/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [It is the fine rain that soaks us through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-de-rabutin-chantal-marquise-de-sevigne/it-is-the-fine-rain-that-soaks-us-through/) [Marie de Rabutin-Chantal, marquise de Sevigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-de-rabutin-chantal-marquise-de-sevigne/) > [“It did always seem so to us: but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/it-did-always-seem-so-to-us-but-now-in-the-division-of-the-kingdom-it/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There's such divinity doth hedge a king That treason can but peep to what it would.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/there-s-such-divinity-doth-hedge-a-king-that-treason-can-but-peep-to/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O King, be loyal to the royal within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-king-be-loyal-to-the-royal-within-you/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Kent. 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And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More King quotes > [“Wasn’t it Machiavelli who said ‘Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-brasher/wasn-t-it-machiavelli-who-said-any-man-who-tries-to-be-good-all-the/) [Darius Brasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-brasher/) > [“Kings don’t move mountains as a favor to a friend,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/kings-don-t-move-mountains-as-a-favor-to-a-friend/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [People from all walks of life that you might find as a King Diamond fan - you don't look a certain way; you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/king-diamond/people-from-all-walks-of-life-that-you-might-find-as-a-king-diamond/) [King Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/king-diamond/) > ['Melanin Man' was inspired by the words of an Uber driver in L.A. 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