--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If she be not honest, chaste, and true…" description: "\"If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c3/william-shakespeare-4_chaste_if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-the_272872.jpg" --- # If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man… ![“If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c3/william-shakespeare-4_chaste_if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-the_272872.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c3/william-shakespeare-4_chaste_if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-the_272872.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c3/william-shakespeare-4_chaste_if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-the_272872.jpg) > “If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy.” [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. Honesty, chastity, and truth are essential for a man's happiness. **In simple terms:** Truth and virtue bring happiness. Key Takeaway Seek integrity in relationships. Themes honesty virtue relationships Mood thoughtful classic Type philosophical literary When to use this quote - marriage counseling - personal ethics - literary analysis Key Concepts Moral philosophy classical literature Questions to Reflect On - Is absolute honesty always beneficial? - Can virtue exist without happiness? A Different Perspective Ideal standards may be unrealistic. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chaste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaste/) [Chaste True](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaste-true-2663290/) [Desdemona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desdemona/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Honest Chaste](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest-chaste-2663289/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Not honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-honest/) [True man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-man/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Wedlock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wedlock/) ## Related quotes > [Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/speak-of-me-as-i-am-nothing-extenuate-nor-set-down-aught-in-malice/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“God me such uses send, Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/god-me-such-uses-send-not-to-pick-bad-from-bad-but-by-bad-mend/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [IAGO: She that was ever fair and never proud, Had tongue at will and yet was never loud, Never lack'd gold and yet went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/iago-she-that-was-ever-fair-and-never-proud-had-tongue-at-will-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead. 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Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss, And is a pattern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/for-what-is-wedlock-forced-but-a-hell-an-age-of-discord-and-continual/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-thou-dost-marry-i-ll-give-thee-this-plague-for-thy-dowry-be-thou/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-thou-as-chaste-as-ice-as-pure-as-snow-thou-shalt-not-escape-calumny/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The moon of Rome, chaste as the icicle that's curded by the frost from purest snow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-moon-of-rome-chaste-as-the-icicle-that-s-curded-by-the-frost-from/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Let men say we be men of good government, being governed, as the sea is, by our noble and chaste mistress the moon, under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-men-say-we-be-men-of-good-government-being-governed-as-the-sea-is/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [As chaste as unsunned snow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/as-chaste-as-unsunned-snow/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Of chastity, the ornaments are chaste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/of-chastity-the-ornaments-are-chaste/) [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/) [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 Chaste quotes > [It is not always from valor or from chastity that men are brave, and women chaste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/it-is-not-always-from-valor-or-from-chastity-that-men-are-brave-and/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [The one who has not conquered the passions cannot enter the chaste and pure region of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/the-one-who-has-not-conquered-the-passions-cannot-enter-the-chaste/) [Vladimir Aleksandrovich Antonov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-aleksandrovich-antonov/) > [Manye chapeleyns arn chaste, ac charite is aweye; Are none hardere than hii whan hii ben avaunced: Unkynde to hire kyn and to alle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-langland/manye-chapeleyns-arn-chaste-ac-charite-is-aweye-are-none-hardere-than/) [William Langland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-langland/) > [Staying chaste until marriage, a commandment of my faith, was one of the most difficult challenges of my young life. I had a powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feisal-abdul-rauf/staying-chaste-until-marriage-a-commandment-of-my-faith-was-one-of/) [Feisal Abdul Rauf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feisal-abdul-rauf/) > [“It is better to lock up your heart with a merciless padlock, than to fall in love with someone who doesn't know what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/it-is-better-to-lock-up-your-heart-with-a-merciless-padlock-than-to/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“A virtuos woman is not moved by big names and flamboyance, but only men of profound wisdom and integrity move her.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/a-virtuos-woman-is-not-moved-by-big-names-and-flamboyance-but-only/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“The girl's life had been squandered in the streets, and among the most noisome of the stews and dens of London, but there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-girl-s-life-had-been-squandered-in-the-streets-and-among-the-most/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Too chaste an adolescence makes for a dissolute old age. It is doubtless easier to give up something one has known than something one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gide/too-chaste-an-adolescence-makes-for-a-dissolute-old-age-it-is/) [Andre Gide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gide/) > [The eye of a man should be still more reverent before the rising of a young maiden than before the rising of a star.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/the-eye-of-a-man-should-be-still-more-reverent-before-the-rising-of-a/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Mediocre people often have a tinge of religion about them, but it is only a tinge. They take their religion as it comes. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-dubay/mediocre-people-often-have-a-tinge-of-religion-about-them-but-it-is/) [Thomas Dubay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-dubay/) > [There's a disciplined erotic component to it, so that the height of sexual contact is the embrace, the modest touch, a relatively chaste kiss.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-kitcher/there-s-a-disciplined-erotic-component-to-it-so-that-the-height-of/) [Philip Kitcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-kitcher/) > [A Roman divorced from his wife, being highly blamed by his friends, who demanded, "Was she not chaste? Was she not fair? Was she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/a-roman-divorced-from-his-wife-being-highly-blamed-by-his-friends-who/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Make me chaste and To what excesses will men not go for the sake of a religion in which they believe so little and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/make-me-chaste-and-to-what-excesses-will-men-not-go-for-the-sake-of-a/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [Art is never chaste. It ought to be forbidden to ignorant innocents, never allowed into contact with those not sufficiently prepared. Yes, art is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-is-never-chaste-it-ought-to-be-forbidden-to-ignorant-innocents/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) > [She only is chaste, who is chaste where there is no danger of detection: she who does not, because she may not, does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ovid/she-only-is-chaste-who-is-chaste-where-there-is-no-danger-of/) [Ovid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ovid/) [Browse all 169 Chaste quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chaste/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-there-s-no-man-happy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Chaste" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-there-s-no-man-happy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c3/william-shakespeare-4_chaste_if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-the_272872.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c3/william-shakespeare-4_chaste_if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-the_272872.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c3/william-shakespeare-4_chaste_if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-the_272872.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy.” — 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": "If she be not honest, chaste,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-there-s-no-man-happy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-there-s-no-man-happy/#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 } } ] } ```