to thine own self be true
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Be yourself; be true to yourself; do not engage in self-deception.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
This aboue all, to thy owne ſelfe be true,
And it muſt follow as the night the day,
Thou canſt not then be falſe to any one, […]
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “to thine own self be true” mean?
Be yourself; be true to yourself; do not engage in self-deception.
Is “to thine own self be true” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.