--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in…" description: "\"“What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night so stumblest on my counsel?”\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/william-shakespeare-4_art_what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreen-d-i_2996234.jpg" --- # What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night so… ![“What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night so stumblest on my counsel?” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/william-shakespeare-4_art_what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreen-d-i_2996234.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/william-shakespeare-4_art_what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreen-d-i_2996234.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/william-shakespeare-4_art_what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreen-d-i_2996234.jpg) > ““What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night so stumblest on my counsel?”” [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 character questions the hidden motives of someone who appears to be obscured by darkness and confusion. **In simple terms:** Questioning hidden motives behind confusing behavior. Key Takeaway Seek clarity before judgment. Themes identity motivation misunderstanding Mood curious introspective Type literary dramatic When to use this quote - personal relationships - conflict resolution - self‑reflection Key Concepts psychology dramatic irony Questions to Reflect On - What assumptions are you making about others? - How does darkness symbolize uncertainty? A Different Perspective The speaker may be projecting his own confusion onto the other. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Thou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-thou-542822/) [Bescreen Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bescreen-night-4733624/) [Night Stumblest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night-stumblest-4733623/) [Stumblest Counsel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stumblest-counsel-4733625/) [Thou Bescreen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thou-bescreen-4733622/) ## Related quotes > [What man art thou that, thus bescreened in night, So stumblest on my counsel? \*Who are you? Why do you hide in the darkness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreened-in-night-so-stumblest-on-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Discuss unto me: art thou officer, Or art thou base, common, and popular?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/discuss-unto-me-art-thou-officer-or-art-thou-base-common-and-popular/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Where art thou, Muse, that thou forget'st so long / To speak of that which gives thee all thy might?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/where-art-thou-muse-that-thou-forget-st-so-long-to-speak-of-that/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valour As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/art-thou-afeard-to-be-the-same-in-thine-own-act-and-valour-as-thou/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O Ceremony, show me but thy worth? What is thy soul of adoration? Art thou aught else but place, degree, and form, Creating awe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-ceremony-show-me-but-thy-worth-what-is-thy-soul-of-adoration-art/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/romeo-romeo-wherefore-art-thou-romeo/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee. I have thee not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-this-a-dagger-which-i-see-before-me-the-handle-toward-my-hand-come-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Or art thou but / A dagger of the mind, a false creation, / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/or-art-thou-but-a-dagger-of-the-mind-a-false-creation-proceeding-from/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Less than the cloud to the wind, Less than the foam to the sea, Less than the rose to the storm Am I to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-teasdale/less-than-the-cloud-to-the-wind-less-than-the-foam-to-the-sea-less/) [Sara Teasdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-teasdale/) > [What thou art, that thou art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/what-thou-art-that-thou-art/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [Study what thou art Whereof thou art a part What thou knowest of this art This is really what thou art. All that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-drummond/study-what-thou-art-whereof-thou-art-a-part-what-thou-knowest-of-this/) [William Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-drummond/) > [“Where art thou that thou art not here.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/where-art-thou-that-thou-art-not-here/) [Gabriel García Márquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/) > [Art thou a type of beauty, or of power, Of sweet enjoyment, or disastrous sin?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-aubrey-de-vere-2nd-baronet/art-thou-a-type-of-beauty-or-of-power-of-sweet-enjoyment-or/) [Sir Aubrey de Vere, 2nd Baronet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-aubrey-de-vere-2nd-baronet/) > [“Who art thou, Art? Do you make art the way I make love—with a paintbrush?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/who-art-thou-art-do-you-make-art-the-way-i-make-love-with-a-paintbrush/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [“The eleventh commandment of art: thou shalt not be boring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-m-driscoll/the-eleventh-commandment-of-art-thou-shalt-not-be-boring/) [W.M. Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-m-driscoll/) ## 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 Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night so stumblest on my counsel?”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreen-d-in-night-so-stumblest-on-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreen-d-in-night-so-stumblest-on-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/william-shakespeare-4_art_what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreen-d-i_2996234.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/william-shakespeare-4_art_what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreen-d-i_2996234.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bed/william-shakespeare-4_art_what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreen-d-i_2996234.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night so stumblest on my counsel?” — 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": "“What man art thou that thus...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreen-d-in-night-so-stumblest-on-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-man-art-thou-that-thus-bescreen-d-in-night-so-stumblest-on-my/#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 } } ] } ```