Speak the truth and shame the devil.
Meaning: Truth-telling defeats deception by exposing falsehood's powerlessness against honest words.
Origin: The devil is the father of lies, so telling the truth defeats him. Shakespeare's Hotspur uses it to mock the boastful Welshman Glendower in Henry IV, Part 1: "tell truth and shame the devil." It was already proverbial in the 16th century; the preacher Hugh Latimer used it in sermons printed in 1555.
More proverbs about Communication
- Any flat can talk of change of weather. — Even the most ordinary person can observe and comment on obvious, visible phenomena occur…
- He that tells his wife news is but newly married. — A husband who shares secrets with his wife hasn't yet learned discretion is essential to…
- Wit ill applied is a dangerous weapon. — Clever words wielded carelessly inflict harm deeper than intended, making intelligence wi…
- An honest man's word is as good as his bond. — Integrity without documentation suffices; trustworthy character renders formal guarantees…
- Words are like weights, gravity gives them effect. — Heavy words gain power through the seriousness of their context and the consequences they…
- A word is enough to the wise. — The wise person needs only minimal guidance to understand and act on good advice.