--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When he is best, he is a little worse…" description: "\"When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/william-shakespeare-4_animals_when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-tha_2336900.jpg" --- # When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when… ![“When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/william-shakespeare-4_animals_when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-tha_2336900.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/william-shakespeare-4_animals_when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-tha_2336900.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/william-shakespeare-4_animals_when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-tha_2336900.jpg) > “When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast.” [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. Even the best among us have flaws; the worst can show unexpected humanity. **In simple terms:** Good and bad both have shades. Key Takeaway Recognize complexity in people. Themes humanity morality duality Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - leadership - justice - personal relationships - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethics psychology Questions to Reflect On - How do you judge character? - When can a villain act virtuously? A Different Perspective Simplistic judgments ignore nuanced reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) [Memorable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memorable/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Merchant of venice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/merchant-of-venice/) ## Related quotes > [All that glitters is not gold.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/all-that-glitters-is-not-gold/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-am-a-jew-hath-not-a-jew-eyes-hath-not-a-jew-hands-organs-dimensions/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [All that glisters is not gold; Often have you heard that told.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/all-that-glisters-is-not-gold-often-have-you-heard-that-told/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There is no vice so simple but assumes some mark of virtue on his outward parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/there-is-no-vice-so-simple-but-assumes-some-mark-of-virtue-on-his/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Some men there are love not a gaping pig, some that are mad if they behold a cat, and others when the bagpipe sings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/some-men-there-are-love-not-a-gaping-pig-some-that-are-mad-if-they/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The quality of mercy is not strained](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-quality-of-mercy-is-not-strained/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Now, infidel, I have you on the hip!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/now-infidel-i-have-you-on-the-hip/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The brain may devise laws for the blood, but a hot temper leaps o'er a cold decree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-brain-may-devise-laws-for-the-blood-but-a-hot-temper-leaps-o-er-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-hold-the-world-but-as-the-world-gratiano/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [You take my life when you do take the means whereby I live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/you-take-my-life-when-you-do-take-the-means-whereby-i-live/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [We do pray for mercy, and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/we-do-pray-for-mercy-and-that-same-prayer-doth-teach-us-all-to-render/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st But in his motion like an angel sings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/there-s-not-the-smallest-orb-which-thou-behold-st-but-in-his-motion-2/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The weakest kind of fruit drops earliest to the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-weakest-kind-of-fruit-drops-earliest-to-the-ground/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? ...If you poison us, do we not die? And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/hath-not-a-jew-eyes-hath-not-a-jew-hands-organs-dimensions-senses/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The moon shines bright. In such a night as this. When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees and they did make no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-moon-shines-bright-in-such-a-night-as-this-when-the-sweet-wind/) [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 Animals quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/no-creature-can-attain-a-higher-grade-of-nature-without-ceasing-to/) [Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) [Browse all 6,813 Animals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-than-a-man-and-when-he-is-worst/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-than-a-man-and-when-he-is-worst/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/william-shakespeare-4_animals_when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-tha_2336900.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/william-shakespeare-4_animals_when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-tha_2336900.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/afa/william-shakespeare-4_animals_when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-tha_2336900.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When he is best, he is a little worse than a man; and when he is worst, he is little better than a beast.” — 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": "When he is best, he is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-than-a-man-and-when-he-is-worst/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/when-he-is-best-he-is-a-little-worse-than-a-man-and-when-he-is-worst/#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 } } ] } ```