--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew…" description: "\"I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd, Or a dry Wheele gr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/william-shakespeare-4_ballad_i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-tha_9942.jpg" --- # I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these… ![“I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd, Or a dry Wheele grate on the Axle-tree, And that would set my teeth nothing an edge, Nothing so much, as mincing Poetrie...” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/william-shakespeare-4_ballad_i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-tha_9942.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/william-shakespeare-4_ballad_i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-tha_9942.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/william-shakespeare-4_ballad_i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-tha_9942.jpg) > “I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd, Or a dry Wheele grate on the Axle-tree, And that would set my teeth nothing an edge, Nothing so much, as mincing Poetrie...” [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. The speaker prefers simple, honest expression over pretentious, overly ornate poetry. **In simple terms:** Simplicity over affectation Key Takeaway Value authenticity in language Themes Authenticity Simplicity Critique of pretension Artistic integrity Mood Reflective Wry Type Poetic lament Literary critique When to use this quote - Writing poetry - Literary analysis - Creative writing workshops Key Concepts Poetry Literary criticism Metaphor Practical Applications - Teaching concise expression - Guiding authentic artistic voice Questions to Reflect On - What makes language feel genuine? - How does pretension hinder communication? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ballad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballad/) [Ballads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballads/) [Cry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cry/) [Grate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grate/) [Kitten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitten/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Tree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tree/) ## Related quotes > [I love a ballad but even too well if it be doleful matter merrily set down, or a very pleasant thing indeed and sung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-love-a-ballad-but-even-too-well-if-it-be-doleful-matter-merrily-set/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [As you might imagine, if you're a teenager having a couple of people with microphones and guns always following you around, that could grate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-you-might-imagine-if-you-re-a-teenager-having-a-couple-of-people/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Not till the fire is dying in the grate, Look we for any kinship with the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-meredith/not-till-the-fire-is-dying-in-the-grate-look-we-for-any-kinship-with/) [George Meredith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-meredith/) > [But then the girl moved, and smiled, and pulled her hand from the grate- a gorgeous green stone clutched tightly in her grasp. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/but-then-the-girl-moved-and-smiled-and-pulled-her-hand-from-the-grate/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [The proverbe saith that many a smale maketh a grate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/the-proverbe-saith-that-many-a-smale-maketh-a-grate/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [The rain set early in tonight, The sullen wind was soon awake, It tore the elm-tops down for spite, And did its best to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-browning/the-rain-set-early-in-tonight-the-sullen-wind-was-soon-awake-it-tore/) [Robert Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-browning/) > [“A feeble fire is worse than an empty grate.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-swift/a-feeble-fire-is-worse-than-an-empty-grate/) [Graham Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-swift/) > [This is, i think, very much the Age of Anxiety, the age of the neurosis, because along with so much that weighs on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-kronenberger/this-is-i-think-very-much-the-age-of-anxiety-the-age-of-the-neurosis/) [Louis Kronenberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-kronenberger/) > [Faire language grates not the tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/faire-language-grates-not-the-tongue/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [When you're down to nothing... God is up to something. Because for every set back in life, There is always a grate come back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mercy-pheona/when-you-re-down-to-nothing-god-is-up-to-something-because-for-every/) [Mercy Pheona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mercy-pheona/) > [We are talking about mutated women, the result of cruel genetic experiments performed by fashion designers so lacking in any sense of human decency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/we-are-talking-about-mutated-women-the-result-of-cruel-genetic/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Although a food processor is not an absolutely essential piece of equipment, because you can certainly chop, grate, slice, knead and mix everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/delia-smith/although-a-food-processor-is-not-an-absolutely-essential-piece-of/) [Delia Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/delia-smith/) > [I've had to take a lot of stick down the years but the one thing that really got to me was when someone questioned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-strachan/i-ve-had-to-take-a-lot-of-stick-down-the-years-but-the-one-thing-that/) [Gordon Strachan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-strachan/) > [Are imperfections is which make we grate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-benzine/are-imperfections-is-which-make-we-grate/) [Craig Benzine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-benzine/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [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/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“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/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' 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 Ballad quotes > [I would say I am one of those people who just love to connect to people doing something I love. Can't lie, love a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calum-scott/i-would-say-i-am-one-of-those-people-who-just-love-to-connect-to/) [Calum Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calum-scott/) > [My love was Bob Dylan, but as I got older I realized a good ballad was a good ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/my-love-was-bob-dylan-but-as-i-got-older-i-realized-a-good-ballad-was/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [“Night after night on starry wings Night lovers soared so high Miles apart, across the oceans Their love forgot to sigh In heavenly flight’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/night-after-night-on-starry-wings-night-lovers-soared-so-high-miles/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [When I first heard that song, it was a ballad but it had a lot more. It felt like a gospel song when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-cox/when-i-first-heard-that-song-it-was-a-ballad-but-it-had-a-lot-more-it/) [Deborah Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-cox/) > [One of our earliest recordings was an arrangement of 'Ticket to Ride.' It was our first single and it makes a beautiful ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carpenter/one-of-our-earliest-recordings-was-an-arrangement-of-ticket-to-ride/) [Richard Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carpenter/) > [I love a ballad but even too well if it be doleful matter merrily set down, or a very pleasant thing indeed and sung…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-love-a-ballad-but-even-too-well-if-it-be-doleful-matter-merrily-set/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [My music is very diversified. I'll have a rock song then I'll do a ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-camp/my-music-is-very-diversified-i-ll-have-a-rock-song-then-i-ll-do-a/) [Jeremy Camp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-camp/) > [“It's the ballads I like best, and I'm not talking about the clichéd ones where a diva hits her highest note or a rock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-kuehnert/it-s-the-ballads-i-like-best-and-i-m-not-talking-about-the-clich-d/) [Stephanie Kuehnert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-kuehnert/) > [“♫ Climbed that roost, alighted right there. Made mush of his head for the onlooker bears. A two-pronger her prize, a meat most rare.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-drake/climbed-that-roost-alighted-right-there-made-mush-of-his-head-for-the/) [Darrell Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-drake/) > [I have a long track record of never getting the part. And I did get a small part in 'The Ballad of Baby Doe,'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridget-everett/i-have-a-long-track-record-of-never-getting-the-part-and-i-did-get-a/) [Bridget Everett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridget-everett/) > [For a ballad's a thing you expect to find lies in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-lover/for-a-ballad-s-a-thing-you-expect-to-find-lies-in/) [Samuel Lover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-lover/) > [To me, ballads are special, because you can have a pop song that’ll be know for three weeks and then you’ll hear nothing else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/to-me-ballads-are-special-because-you-can-have-a-pop-song-that-ll-be/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [No one wants to hear me crooning a ballad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/no-one-wants-to-hear-me-crooning-a-ballad/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [I was kind of known as a ballad singer. People would send ballads. Some of them would go over my shoulder and float off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-coolidge/i-was-kind-of-known-as-a-ballad-singer-people-would-send-ballads-some/) [Rita Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-coolidge/) > [I always feel on film you have to earn a ballad, because it's a different kind of pace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-marshall/i-always-feel-on-film-you-have-to-earn-a-ballad-because-it-s-a/) [Rob Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-marshall/) [Browse all 53 Ballad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ballad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a Brazen Candlestick turn'd, Or a dry Wheele grate on the Axle-tree, And that would set my teeth nothing an edge, Nothing so much, as mincing Poetrie...", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ballad" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/william-shakespeare-4_ballad_i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-tha_9942.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/william-shakespeare-4_ballad_i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-tha_9942.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/154/william-shakespeare-4_ballad_i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-tha_9942.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I had rather be a Kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same Meeter Ballad-mongers: I had rather heare a…” — William Shakespeare", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "William Shakespeare", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I had rather be a Kitten,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-had-rather-be-a-kitten-and-cry-mew-than-one-of-these-same-meeter/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```