What is meant by "To thy own self be true"?

Question

I understand that this is something out of Hamlet but I may have been misinformed.

Answer 1

Don't lie to yourself. Don't be a phony. Be 100% honest with yourself. It's the first step to being honest with the world.

Answer 2

Hamlet- Polionus is giving his son,who is going away some fatherly advise & I quote

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be,
For loan oft loses self and friend,
And borrowing dulleth the edge of husbandry.
This above all, To thine own self be true,
And it must follow as night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man.

Basically it means if you are always honest to yourself,by habit , you will then be honest with everyone.

If you are not sure of the word "Husbandry" was an old english term meaning to be able to budget and take care of yourself.
Hope this clears it up for you.

Answer 3

Financially- my husband is very bad with money, so I've taken up freelance work in order to cover our assets. Sexual- I'm 3/4 lesbian, my husband and I have threesomes occasionally. Career- My freelance work is art, and I'm saving up for a tattoo gun. Art has always been my passion, and now I can make money doing it. Relationships with family- I don't talk to my dad for many many reasons. The rest of my family think that I should...but they also think that my reasons for not talking to him are baseless, which they aren't. Long term goals-Starting out slowly...If I can make the tattoo thing work, eventually I'll have my own shop and from there my own club. I stay within my passions, it's the only way to live! =)

Answer 4

Yep it's from Hamlet. The great irony is the Character that spoke it was very manipulative of others. Even though if were following that advice, you wouldn't let others manipulate you.

Answer 5

Not to compromise yourself. To act and say what you "feel" is the truth, your truth, and not to be cohearsed by others.