To thine own self be true. — William Shakespeare · Smartyfair

To thine own self be true.

William Shakespeare1564–1616 · playwright · 1500s-1600s EnglandWilliam Shakespeare was an English playwright and poet widely considered the greatest writer in the English language, author of plays like Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.7 quotes

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In plain words

Be honest about who you really are inside.

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Where these words come from

How sure this is: 90% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
What turned up: William Shakespeare, Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3 (Polonius to Laertes): 'This above all: to thine own self be true.' Written c. 1600-1601, first printed 1603. Verbatim Shakespeare — not an anonymous proverb.
Work: Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 3
Occasion: c. 1600 · Polonius's parting advice to his son Laertes
Sources checked: folger.eduChecked using claude-sonnet-5, 21 August 2026Folger Shakespeare Library text of Hamlet Act 1 Scene 3, confirms speaker and surrounding lines
shakespeare.mit.eduChecked using claude-fable-5, 21 August 2026Second edition text (MIT Complete Works) — 'This above all: to thine ownself be true' confirmed by direct fetch; the Folger citation from intake was also re-fetched and confirmed this pass

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William Shakespeare

More on individuality

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