Famous quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson

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Guard your roving thoughts with a jealous care, for speech is but the dialer of thoughts, and every fool can plainly rea
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"Guard your roving thoughts with a jealous care, for speech is but the dialer of thoughts, and every fool can plainly read in your words what is the hour of your thoughts"

- Alfred Lord Tennyson

About this Quote

In this quote, Alfred Lord Tennyson emphasizes the value of being mindful of one's ideas and the effect they have when revealed through speech. He uses the metaphor of "roving thoughts" to describe how our minds can wander delicately, yet he advises caution, suggesting that these thoughts must be "guard [ed] with an envious care." This implies a requirement for watchfulness and security over what we think, as these thoughts undoubtedly form our words.

Tennyson likens speech to a "dialer of ideas," implying that what we say acts as a sign or a screen of our internal thought processes. Just as a clock's dial shows the time, our speech exposes the state of our minds. For that reason, it becomes important to monitor and manage our ideas since when they are verbalized, they are exposed for others to analyze.

The latter part of the quote, "and every fool can plainly read in your words what is the hour of your thoughts," recommends that our spoken words are accessible and interpretable by anybody, regardless of their knowledge or intellect. This concept raises the significance of cultivating and managing thought patterns before they become speech, as once articulated, they supply insight into our existing psychological and emotion. Basically, Tennyson alerts that careless or vulnerable speech can make it easy for others to recognize our true objectives, feelings, or uncertainties.

In essence, Tennyson's quote is a cautionary tip about the openness in between thought and speech. It motivates introspection and conscientiousness regarding our mental processes, comprehending that ignoring this alertness can lead to unintended exposure of our inner operations to the outside world. By securing our ideas, we maintain greater control over our story and the impression we leave on others.

About the Author

Alfred Lord Tennyson This quote is written / told by Alfred Lord Tennyson between August 6, 1809 and October 6, 1892. He was a famous Poet from England. The author also have 39 other quotes.

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