Cressida: My lord, will you be true? Troilus: Who, I? Alas, it is my vice, my fault: Whiles others fish with craft for great opinion, I with great truth catch mere simplicity; Whilst some with cunning gild their copper crowns, With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare. Fear not my truth: the moral of my wit Is "plain and true"; there's all the reach of it. William Shakespeare
About This Quote

A quote from William Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, written in the play's first scene, the first line is spoken by Cressida as she is trying to convince her brother Troilus to give up his love for the beautiful Cressida. She begins her speech by saying "my lord, will you be true?" Now, if we look at this quote in the context of the play it says something completely different. In this particular scene, Cressida is trying to get Troilus to leave Cressida's brother Pandarus' home where he has been hiding out since his father died. She is worried that Pandarus will tell Troilus that she has been sleeping with him. Pandarus speaks in reply "Who, I? Alas, it is my vice, my fault: Whiles others fish with craft for great opinion, I with great truth catch mere simplicity; Whilst some with cunning gild their copper crowns With truth and plainness I do wear mine bare." This quote shows us that Pandarus is not being honest about who he really is or what he really does.

He uses deceit against Cressida while pretending to be someone else. He covers up his true identity and purpose by using the word "craft" in place of his own name. This gives him a false respectability while he hides behind a false mask of craftiness.

This comes back to the idea of lying versus honesty. Honesty makes you yourself while lying makes you someone other than yourself.

Source: Troilus And Cressida

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