Give thy thoughts no tongue, nor any unproportioned thought his act. Be thou familiar but by no means vulgar

Give thy thoughts no tongue, nor any unproportioned thought his act. Be thou familiar but by no means vulgar

In William Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, the character Polonius gives his son Laertes some valuable advice before he embarks on his journey to France. One of the most famous lines from this speech is "Give thy thoughts no tongue, nor any unproportioned thought his act. Be thou familiar but by no means vulgar." This advice is not only relevant to Laertes but can also be applied to our own lives.

The first part of the advice, "Give thy thoughts no tongue," suggests that we should be careful about what we say and think before speaking. It is important to think before we speak, as words can have a powerful impact on others. By being mindful of our thoughts and choosing our words carefully, we can avoid saying things that we may regret later on. This is a timeless piece of advice that is still relevant in today's world, where words can easily be misconstrued or taken out of context.

The second part of the advice, "nor any unproportioned thought his act," reminds us to think before we act. It is important to consider the consequences of our actions before we do something that we may regret. By being mindful of our actions and making sure they are in line with our thoughts, we can avoid making impulsive decisions that we may later regret.

The final part of the advice, "Be thou familiar but by no means vulgar," suggests that we should strive to be friendly and approachable, but not at the expense of our dignity or self-respect. It is important to be kind and welcoming to others, but we should also maintain a sense of decorum and respect for ourselves. By finding a balance between being familiar and being vulgar, we can build strong relationships with others while still maintaining our own integrity.

Overall, the advice given by Polonius to Laertes in Hamlet is a timeless reminder to be mindful of our thoughts, words, and actions. By following this advice, we can navigate through life with grace and integrity, building strong relationships and avoiding unnecessary conflicts.