Short Quotes
One may smile, and smile, and be a villain.
"One may smile, and smile, and be a villain."— William Shakespeare
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Meaning of this quote
A pleasant exterior can conceal harmful intentions. Hamlet reaches this observation after hearing the Ghost's accusation against Claudius, so the line concerns the gap between appearance and conduct.
Key takeaway:
Assess character through conduct rather than friendliness alone.
Origin of the quote
Hamlet, Act I, Scene V, Hamlet recording a lesson after the Ghost's revelation.
Who actually said this?
VerifiedThe Folger text includes this thought within a longer sentence. The post removes its introductory words and changes punctuation while preserving the central clause.
