Thou must be true thyself, If thou the truth wouldst teach; Thy soul must overflow, if thou Another's soul would'st reach! It needs the overflow of heart To give the lips full speech. Think truly, and thy thoughts Shall the world's famine feed; Speak truly, and each word of thine Shall be a fruitful seed; Live truly, and thy life shall be A great and noble creed.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The quote urges honesty and authenticity in thought, speech, and life, suggesting they nurture the world like a seed.
- In plain terms
- Speak and live truthfully, and it will benefit others.
- What can you take from it?
- Cultivate truthfulness to create positive impact.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does honesty conflict with kindness?
- How can we balance truth with compassion?
Another view
It assumes truthfulness always yields positive outcomes.
Related quotes
Don't lie if you don't have to.
Leo SzilardLeo Szilard quote #9 Life is short and truth works far and lives long: let us speak the truth.
Arthur SchopenhauerArthur Schopenhauer quote #10 He who has the truth at his heart need never fear the want of persuasion on his tongue.
John RuskinJohn Ruskin quote #31