Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's tongue shakes out his master's undoing

Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's tongue shakes out his master's undoing

In William Shakespeare's play "Much Ado About Nothing," the character Benedick speaks the line, "Marry, you are the wiser man; for many a man's tongue shakes out his master's undoing." This line is spoken during a conversation between Benedick and his friend Claudio, where they discuss the nature of gossip and the power of words to cause harm.

The phrase "Marry, you are the wiser man" is a colloquial expression that means "indeed, you are the smarter one." In this context, Benedick is acknowledging Claudio's wisdom in recognizing the danger of loose talk and the potential consequences of speaking ill of others. The second part of the line, "for many a man's tongue shakes out his master's undoing," emphasizes the idea that words have the power to bring about someone's downfall.

Throughout Shakespeare's works, the theme of the destructive power of words is a recurring motif. In "Othello," for example, the villain Iago uses his skillful manipulation of language to sow seeds of doubt and jealousy in Othello's mind, ultimately leading to tragic consequences. In "King Lear," the character of Edmund uses deceitful language to turn his father against his brother and seize power for himself.