It comes to pass oft that a terrible oath, with a swaggering accent sharply twanged off, gives manhood more approbation than ever proof itself would have earned him.

Summary

This quote suggests that sometimes, using strong and boastful language to make a promise or a commitment can make someone seem more courageous or deserving of respect than actually fulfilling that promise would. It implies that the mere act of boldly making an oath, even without backing it up with actions, can sometimes earn someone praise or admiration simply because of the confidence and forcefulness with which they make their promises.

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