---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Fie, thou dishonest Satan! I call thee by…"
description: "\"Fie, thou dishonest Satan! I call thee by the most modest terms; for I am one of those gentle ones that will use the devil himself with courtesy: sayes..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/william-shakespeare-4_courtesy_fie-thou-dishonest-satan-i-call-thee-by_1435572.jpg"
---

#  Fie, thou dishonest Satan! I call thee by the most modest…

![“Fie, thou dishonest Satan! I call thee by the most modest terms; for I am one of those gentle ones that will use the devil himself with courtesy: sayest thou that house is dark?” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/william-shakespeare-4_courtesy_fie-thou-dishonest-satan-i-call-thee-by_1435572.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/william-shakespeare-4_courtesy_fie-thou-dishonest-satan-i-call-thee-by_1435572.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de2/william-shakespeare-4_courtesy_fie-thou-dishonest-satan-i-call-thee-by_1435572.jpg)

> “Fie, thou dishonest Satan! I call thee by the most modest terms; for I am one of those gentle ones that will use the devil himself with courtesy: sayest thou that house is dark?”

[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.

A speaker uses polite language to confront a deceitful devil, highlighting irony.

**In simple terms:** Polite words can confront evil.

Key Takeaway

Use wit and courtesy to expose falsehoods.

Themes

irony language morality conflict

Mood

playful critical

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- personal confrontations
- debates
- literary analysis

Key Concepts

rhetoric personification humor

Questions to Reflect On

- When is sarcasm effective?
- Can courtesy change a hostile situation?

A Different Perspective

Politeness may not deter a truly harmful force.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Devil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devil/) [Gentle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentle/) [Modesty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modesty/) [Satan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satan/)

## Related quotes

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[Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/)

> [though I be but the prince of Wales, yet I am king of courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-i-be-but-the-prince-of-wales-yet-i-am-king-of-courtesy/)

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> [Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant can trickle when she wounds!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/dissembling-courtesy-how-fine-this-tyrant-can-trickle-when-she-wounds/)

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> [Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/then-is-courtesy-a-turncoat-but-it-is-certain-i-am-loved-of-all-2/)

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> [So, you are very welcome to our house. It must appear in other ways than words, Therefore, I scant this breathing courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/so-you-are-very-welcome-to-our-house-it-must-appear-in-other-ways/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/then-is-courtesy-a-turncoat-but-it-is-certain-i-am-loved-of-all/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Through the forest have I gone. But Athenian found I none, On whose eyes I might approve This flower's force in stirring love. Night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/through-the-forest-have-i-gone-but-athenian-found-i-none-on-whose/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I have very poor and unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy would invent some other custom of entertainment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-have-very-poor-and-unhappy-brains-for-drinking-i-could-well-wish/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Manhood is melted into courtesies, valor into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/manhood-is-melted-into-courtesies-valor-into-compliment-and-men-are/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Nay, I am the very pink of courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/nay-i-am-the-very-pink-of-courtesy/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Fit for the mountains and the barbarous caves, where manners ne'er were preached.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/fit-for-the-mountains-and-the-barbarous-caves-where-manners-ne-er/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Though I be but prince of Wales, yet I am the king of courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-i-be-but-prince-of-wales-yet-i-am-the-king-of-courtesy/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [My business was great, and in such a case as mine a man may strain courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-business-was-great-and-in-such-a-case-as-mine-a-man-may-strain/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [The elephant hath joints, but none for courtesy; his legs are legs for necessity, not for flexure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-elephant-hath-joints-but-none-for-courtesy-his-legs-are-legs-for/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/men-s-evil-manners-live-in-brass-their-virtues-we-write-in-water/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

## More by William Shakespeare

> [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/)

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> [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/)

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> [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/)

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> [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/)

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## More Courtesy quotes

> [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [Less of your courtesy and more of your purse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/less-of-your-courtesy-and-more-of-your-purse/)

Proverb

> [Dullness is a courteous fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-mustafa/dullness-is-a-courteous-fear/)

[Mohammad MUSTAFA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-mustafa/)

> [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/)

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Miguel Cervantes

> [“I would court you, with all the grace and courtesy that you deserve,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-would-court-you-with-all-the-grace-and-courtesy-that-you-deserve/)

[C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/)

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[Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/)

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[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Show some mercy to this chair which has stretched out its arms to you for so long; please satisfy its desire to embrace you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/show-some-mercy-to-this-chair-which-has-stretched-out-its-arms-to-you/)

[Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/)

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[Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/)

> [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/)

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> [They who sow courtesy reap friendship, and they who plant kindness gather love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/they-who-sow-courtesy-reap-friendship-and-they-who-plant-kindness/)

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Maria Wallingford

> [though I be but the prince of Wales, yet I am king of courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-i-be-but-the-prince-of-wales-yet-i-am-king-of-courtesy/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Princes of courtesy, merciful, proud and strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-newbolt/princes-of-courtesy-merciful-proud-and-strong/)

[Henry Newbolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-newbolt/)

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