Search results
Significant quotes in William Shakespeare's King Henry The Fifth with explanations.
Nym has heard that men of few words are the best men, so he doesn't say his prayers because he's worried about being thought to be a coward. But his few bad words are matched with as few good deeds. He never hurt any man's head except his own, and that was against a post when he was drunk.
This English phrase has been around for over 400 years. One of its first known uses was by William Shakespeare in his 1599 play King Henry V. He hath heard that men of few words are the best men. Despite the age of this phrase, its meaning has not changed much.
Men of few words are the best men. (Boy, Act 3 Scene 2) That’s a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion. (Orleans, Act 3 Scene 7) I think the king is but a man, as I am: the violet smells to him as it doth to me. (King Henry, Act 4 Scene 1) Every subject’s duty is the king’s, but every subject’s soul is his own.
For indeed three such antics do not amount to a man: for Bardolph, he is white-livered and red-faced, by the means whereof he faces it out but fights not; for Pistol, he hath a killing tongue and a quiet sword, by the means whereof he breaks words and keeps whole weapons; for Nym, he hath heard that men of few words are the best men, and ...
For Nym, he hath heard that men of few words are the best men; and therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest a' should be thought a coward: but his few bad words are matched with...
“Men of few words are the best men.” Boy (act 3 scene 2) “That’s a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.” Orleans (act 3 scene 7) “I think the king is but a man, as I am: the violet smells to him as it doth to me.” King Henry (act 4 scene 1)
