We have a pretty witty king, Whose word no man relies on; He never said a foolish thing, Nor ever did a wise one.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The king is witty but unreliable; he speaks cleverly but acts foolishly.
- In plain terms
- The king sounds smart but his actions are not wise.
- What can you take from it?
- Judge leaders by actions, not just their words.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do words match actions?
- Who do you trust?
Another view
Words can sometimes precede wise actions.
More from John, 2nd Earl of Rochester Wilmot
The Elephant is never won with Anger, Nor must that man, who would reclaim a Lion, Take him by the teeth.
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