---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why, why is this? Think'st thou I'ld make…"
description: "\"“Why, why is this? Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt Is..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/william-shakespeare-4_doubt_why-why-is-this-think-st-thou-i-ld-make_209790.jpg"
---

#  Why, why is this? Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of…

![“Why, why is this? Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat, When I shall turn the business of my soul To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, Matching thy…” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/william-shakespeare-4_doubt_why-why-is-this-think-st-thou-i-ld-make_209790.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/william-shakespeare-4_doubt_why-why-is-this-think-st-thou-i-ld-make_209790.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/william-shakespeare-4_doubt_why-why-is-this-think-st-thou-i-ld-make_209790.jpg)

> ““Why, why is this? Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat, When I shall turn the business of my soul To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well; Where virtue is, these are more virtuous: Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt; For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago; I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And on the proof, there is no more but this,-- Away at once with love or jealousy!””

[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.

Iago tries to manipulate Othello’s emotions, urging him to question his wife’s fidelity and to prove his doubts before acting on them.

**In simple terms:** Manipulate doubt before acting on jealousy.

Key Takeaway

Question doubts before reacting.

Themes

jealousy trust manipulation love reason

Mood

anxious reflective

Type

dramatic philosophical

When to use this quote

- marriage counseling
- workplace conflicts
- friendship disputes
- legal investigations

Key Concepts

psychology emotional intelligence rhetoric

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance healthy skepticism with trust?
- What evidence is sufficient before confronting a partner?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on proof can erode trust and create paranoia.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Jealousy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jealousy/)

## Related quotes

> [Think'st thou I'd make a life of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/think-st-thou-i-d-make-a-life-of-jealousy-to-follow-still-the-changes/)

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

> [“You’re so cute when you’re jealous,” I say. She looks at me, her resolve melting with my words. I take her face in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/you-re-so-cute-when-you-re-jealous-i-say-she-looks-at-me-her-resolve/)

[Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/)

> [There are people that get jealous and they say Nicky is a snob or Paris is a snot. I know I've heard it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-hilton/there-are-people-that-get-jealous-and-they-say-nicky-is-a-snob-or/)

[Kathy Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-hilton/)

> [“And I lie down on your carpet so long that you think I will stay forever but I get up and I see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-pink/and-i-lie-down-on-your-carpet-so-long-that-you-think-i-will-stay/)

[Sam Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-pink/)

> [Should I be jealous over everything you say and every girl you talk to? Well bae I am and don't ever forget that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/should-i-be-jealous-over-everything-you-say-and-every-girl-you-talk/)

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

> [“And the truth is, sometimes my sisters and I do get jealous, and sometimes we do say things to-and about-one another that are thoughtless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-medoff/and-the-truth-is-sometimes-my-sisters-and-i-do-get-jealous-and/)

[Jillian Medoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-medoff/)

> [So full of artless jealousy is guilt, It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/so-full-of-artless-jealousy-is-guilt-it-spills-itself-in-fearing-to/)

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

> [“But jealous souls will not be answered so. They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they’re jealous. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/but-jealous-souls-will-not-be-answered-so-they-are-not-ever-jealous/)

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

> [The wound of peace is surety, Surety secure; but modest doubt is called The beacon of the wise, the tent that searches To th'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-wound-of-peace-is-surety-surety-secure-but-modest-doubt-is-called/)

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

> [ . . . . \[P\]ersons who love very much, easily take offense at trifles. No doubt your excessive affection for me makes you a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/p-ersons-who-love-very-much-easily-take-offense-at-trifles-no-doubt/)

[Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/)

> [Being with a jealous person is better than someone who never cares about what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-with-a-jealous-person-is-better-than-someone-who-never-cares/)

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

> [“He often remembered his dad's admonition that envy was mental theft. If you coveted another man's possessions, Dad said, then you should be willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/he-often-remembered-his-dad-s-admonition-that-envy-was-mental-theft/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“To be mature is, we're told, to move beyond possessiveness. Jealousy is for babies. The mature person knows that no one owns anyone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/to-be-mature-is-we-re-told-to-move-beyond-possessiveness-jealousy-is/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [“That's the catch about betrayal, of course: that it feels good, that there's something immensely pleasurable about moving from a complicated relationship which involves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/that-s-the-catch-about-betrayal-of-course-that-it-feels-good-that/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

## 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 Doubt quotes

> [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/)

Ted Martinez

> [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/)

[Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/)

> [I don't doubt that straight white men have identity issues and identity complexes and struggle with defining themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-simien/i-don-t-doubt-that-straight-white-men-have-identity-issues-and/)

[Justin Simien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-simien/)

> [“Where there is doubt (shanka), there is misery. The moment one begins to doubt the knowledge that, 'I am Chandubhai,' misery arises. Once one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-is-doubt-shanka-there-is-misery-the-moment-one-begins-to/)

[Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/)

> [We know accurately only when we know little, with knowledge doubt increases.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-know-accurately-only-when-we-know-little-with-knowledge-doubt/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/)

[Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/)

> [How could you feel worthless when God has honoured you by creating you and choosing you to be with Him, in this life and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yasmin-mogahed/how-could-you-feel-worthless-when-god-has-honoured-you-by-creating/)

[Yasmin Mogahed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yasmin-mogahed/)

> [“Let no one hope to find in contemplation an escape from conflict, from anguish or from doubt. On the contrary, the deep, inexpressible certitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/let-no-one-hope-to-find-in-contemplation-an-escape-from-conflict-from/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [“Two powerful, little words I've learned to use when facing challenges, fears, and doubts— so what? ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/two-powerful-little-words-i-ve-learned-to-use-when-facing-challenges/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/)

[George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/)

> [Vision motivates, sustains and dispels doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-young/vision-motivates-sustains-and-dispels-doubt/)

[Thomas Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-young/)

> [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/)

[Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/)

> [Let smiles overshadow sadness. Let faith make you believe. Let confidence wash away doubts. Let love complete your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/let-smiles-overshadow-sadness-let-faith-make-you-believe-let/)

[Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/)

> [When in doubt, suggest that a subcommittee be appointed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-chapman/when-in-doubt-suggest-that-a-subcommittee-be-appointed/)

Harry Chapman

> [“Those who contemplate never escape the doubt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/those-who-contemplate-never-escape-the-doubt/)

[Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/)

[Browse all 9,582 Doubt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Why, why is this? Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat, When I shall turn the business of my soul To such exsufflicate and blown surmises, Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well; Where virtue is, these are more virtuous: Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt; For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago; I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; And on the proof, there is no more but this,-- Away at once with love or jealousy!”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Shakespeare"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-why-is-this-think-st-thou-i-ld-make-a-lie-of-jealousy-to-follow/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Doubt"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-why-is-this-think-st-thou-i-ld-make-a-lie-of-jealousy-to-follow/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/william-shakespeare-4_doubt_why-why-is-this-think-st-thou-i-ld-make_209790.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/william-shakespeare-4_doubt_why-why-is-this-think-st-thou-i-ld-make_209790.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d6/william-shakespeare-4_doubt_why-why-is-this-think-st-thou-i-ld-make_209790.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Why, why is this? Think'st thou I'ld make a lie of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With…” — 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": "“Why, why is this? Think'st thou...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-why-is-this-think-st-thou-i-ld-make-a-lie-of-jealousy-to-follow/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-why-is-this-think-st-thou-i-ld-make-a-lie-of-jealousy-to-follow/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
