What do you mean when you say "Still waters run deep"?

Question

Please give some explainations.. Thanks :)

Answer 1

Still waters are deep waters, like a lake that doesn't move. But a river rushs heavily and you can see the motion. So people know that waters that don't move are deep waters. So they say still waters run deep when they talk about a person assuming that a quite person is actually a deep thinker. Not a bad idea but most great thinkers are usually vocal and host seminars and write books, so who knows. They say the empty can rattles the most :)

Answer 2

It is a Shakespeare quote! Essentially describing a deep thinking person.

Silent and quiet conspirators or traitors are most dangerous, in this quote from Henry VI.

“Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep;
And in his simple show he harbours treason,
The fox barks not when he would steal the lamb;
No, no, my sovereign, Gloucester is a man
Unsounded yet, and full of deep deceit.”


2 Henry VI., iii. 1.

Answer 3

still waters run deep

"A calm and quiet exterior often conceals strong emotions, obstinacy or cunning, etc."
http://www.allwords.com/word-in%20deep%20water.html

"Some rivers have rough surfaces with waves. That's usually because the water is shallow and there are rocks near the surface. But deep rivers have no rocks near the surface and the water is smooth and still. "Still waters run deep" means that people who are calm and tranquil on the outside, often have a strong, "deep" personality."
http://www.englishclub.com/reading/proverbs-meaning.htm

Answer 4

People tell me that all the time. It means that if you are a quiet or calm person, you probably think more than you talk (that's a good thing). Basically, it's a complement meaning you seem smart for not blurting out anything that comes to mind.

Answer 5

A person’s calm exterior often conceals great depths of character, just as the deepest streams can have the smoothest surfaces.

Answer 6

A person’s calm exterior often conceals great depths of character, just as the deepest streams can have the smoothest surfaces.

Answer 7

I like both the first and second response.

I always took it to mean that currents "run" under the surface,
meaning that the quiet ones were the ones to watch out for.
(GOIN' POSTAL!!!)

Answer 8

It is usually in reference to a person. It means that someone who appears to be very quiet or meek on the surface might be very complicated underneath.

Answer 9

it means that what looks like a simple ,quiet and dull maybe stupid ,person .

may in fact be very intelligent with a complex or exiting personallity
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still waters ,you just see the surface
,maybe its shallow,not revealing the extent of its depth

but when you jump in you discover that there seems to be no bottom , who knows what all could be hidden within the depths.

this expression always applies to people

Answer 10

do not go by looks ....... a quiet and calm guy will have deep and grave thoughts. noisy people are shallow,like the ....dogs which bark do not have a reputation ot bite!!