Her virtue was that she said what she thought, her vice that what she thought didn't amount to much.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker values honesty but acknowledges that honesty alone is not valuable without substance.
- In plain terms
- Being honest is good, but your thoughts need to be worthwhile too.
- What can you take from it?
- Honesty without substance is not a true virtue.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Is honesty valuable if what you say is trivial?
- How do you measure the quality of your thoughts?
Another view
Sometimes silence or tact is more valuable than speaking every thought.
More from Peter Ustinov
The truth is really an ambition which is beyond us.
Permalink to quote #5 I have four children which is not bad considering I'm not a Catholic.
Permalink to quote #7 Once we are destined to live out our lives in the prison of our mind, our one duty is to furnish it well.
Permalink to quote #4
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