Everyone, either from modesty or egotism, hides away the best and most delicate of his soul’s possessions; to gain the esteem of others, we must only ever show our ugliest sides; this is how we keep ourselves on the common level

Gustave Flaubert
About This Quote

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, as the ghost of the dead king appears before Hamlet, he warns Hamlet of a society that has become corrupt. He tells him that everyone hides away their best and most delicate soul's possessions, so as to gain the esteem of others. In order to gain the approval of others, we must hide away our ugliest sides. That is how we keep ourselves on the common level.

Source: November

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