You may charge me with murder - or want of sense - (we are all of us weak at times): But the slightest approach to a false pretence was never among my crimes! I said it in Hebrew - I said it in Dutch - I said it in German and Greek: But I wholly forgot (and it vexes me much) That English is what you speak!
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker values honesty over intelligence, admitting flaws but rejecting deceit in all forms and languages.
- In plain terms
- I might be weak or foolish, but I never pretend to be something I am not.
- What can you take from it?
- Honesty is more important than being smart or perfect.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What matters more: being honest or being understood?
- How do we handle mistakes in communication?
Another view
The speaker admits forgetting the audience's language, which undermines their claim of universal communication.
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