This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.”
William Shakespeare, Hamlet, 1.3
This is my favourite quotation and one which, whenever I am in doubt about something, I call to mind. Whether the issue concerns your children, your partner, your friends, your colleagues or customers, the only thing you can ever do is be true to your own beliefs and do what feels right for you. Nobody knows you better than you know yourself – so trust your instincts.
I studied Hamlet at A level and this whole speech by Polonius is full of useful nuggets, especially for the current economic climate “neither a borrower nor a lender be”. Just shows the great man knew his onions.
I love this series. Looking forward to next week already!
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There was a variation of this I liked to quote when I was a consultant:
“Know thy self, and to thine own self be true”
an essential mantra for any entrepreneur.