Wordcraft Community Home Page
The lady doth protest too much, methinks

This topic can be found at:
https://wordcraft.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/332607094/m/4470071596

August 27, 2019, 18:30
Kalleh
The lady doth protest too much, methinks
What does that phrase mean to you? Is Wikipedia correct in saying it "indicates doubt about someone's sincerity?"
August 28, 2019, 05:14
Geoff
I'd say that's right. One can refute one's sincerity by overdoing something, as is the case in Hamlet. Gertrude, however, doesn't see herself in it, IIRC.
August 29, 2019, 19:02
Kalleh
I always have taken it to mean that the person who is protesting is protesting so much, that maybe they are guilty of what they are blaming the other person of. For example, Donald accuses everyone of "fake news," knowing that he is the liar. Or some such...
August 30, 2019, 05:20
Geoff
I'm reminded of this: “If you don't know how to pronounce a word, say it loud! Why compound ignorance with inaudibility?” William Strunk
September 02, 2019, 06:13
BobHale
I don’t really see any great difference between those two interpretations.


"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
September 11, 2019, 08:14
bethree5
I agree with Bob. Kalleh, your interpretation is modern, informed by psychology: you recognize the character may be "sincere" in a technical sense, but her words display subconscious insincerity.
September 12, 2019, 19:14
BobHale
Raises the question of whether it is logically possible to be sincere about something you don’t actually believe. You can certainly appear sincere but that’s not the same thing at all.


"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
September 19, 2019, 20:00
Kalleh
Bob, give me an example. I can be sincere about other religions (other than Judaism), but I don't believe in them. I am trying to understand your perspective.
September 20, 2019, 04:38
BobHale
Let me just rephrase. Is it possible to sincerely claim something that you don’t actually believe?


"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
September 20, 2019, 05:03
Geoff
Can't one can play devil's advocate with sincerity? Don't trial lawyers do it all the time?
September 20, 2019, 17:51
BobHale
I did say that appearing to be sincere isn’t the same thing as being sincere.


"No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money." Samuel Johnson.
September 22, 2019, 19:33
Kalleh
I suppose you are right about that, Bob. I couldn't, for example, convince anyone that I don't believe in abortion.

As for trial lawyers, they are standing up for their legal principles: Even if they believe their client is guilty, they must fight for them.