The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Emerson warns that excessive talk about honor often signals dishonesty or lack thereof.
- In plain terms
- People who brag about honor might be stealing.
- What can you take from it?
- Watch actions not just words when assessing honor.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you verify integrity?
- When do words fail?
Another view
Some truly honorable people do speak openly.
More from Ralph Waldo Emerson
We are born believing. A man bears beliefs as a tree bears apples.
Permalink to quote #200 Shallow men believe in luck, believe in circumstances...Strong men believe in cause and effect.
Permalink to quote #202 Solitude, the safeguard of mediocrity, is to genius the stern friend.
Permalink to quote #199
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