proverb · Words worth keeping
Neither praise nor dispraise thyself, thine actions serve the turn.
Neither praise nor dispraise thyself, thine actions serve the turn.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Conduct can provide a better basis for judging someone’s contribution than their own praise or criticism of themselves. The saying favours evidence in action, while honest self-description, reflection and asking for help still have a useful place.
Example
A designer presents the completed accessibility changes and explains their remaining limits, rather than describing themselves as either exceptional or hopeless.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Praise and dispraise are opposing ways of describing oneself, and the proverb asks actions to serve in their place. In a useful reading, an observer can examine what was done rather than rely only on an emphatic claim about the person who did it. The comparison is not a demand for permanent silence about one’s strengths or mistakes. Explaining a role, acknowledging an error or identifying a need for support can make the work clearer. Actions also require context: an outcome alone may conceal shared effort or constrained circumstances. The proverb encourages grounded assessment without compulsory modesty or treating self-criticism as proof of a defect.
When to use it
Use it when broad self-evaluation is replacing a clear account of a contribution.
Keep in mind
Context and honest reflection matter; the saying should not prevent self-advocacy or requests for support.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown
- Culture
- English