He hath rid his prologue like a rough colt. He knows not the stop. A good moral, my lord: it is not enough to speak, but to speak true.

THESEUS: This fellow does not stand upon points.
LYSANDER: He hath rid his prologue like a rough colt. He knows not the stop. A good moral, my lord: it is not enough to speak, but to speak true.

– William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act 5, Scene 1. Theseus and Lysander comment on Quince’s dreadful Prologue speech. Theseus says that he doesn’t adhere to proper punctuation. Lysander uses a simile to compare Quince’s performance to riding a wild colt, he didn’t know how to stop. It’s not enough to speak, but you need to speak correctly, Lysander says.

William Shakespeare Quotes