A person who is said to have a heart of gold is thought to be a good and kind person. The phrase heart of gold has been used since at least the 1500s. The phrase is thought to have been popularized through its use in William Shakespeare's play Henry V, which was written around 1599.The expression "heart of gold" evokes a powerful image of warmth, compassion, and generosity, encapsulating the essence of goodness and kindness in human nature. Dating back to at least the 1500s, the phrase has endured through the centuries, resonating with people across cultures and languages as a timeless symbol of virtue and integrity.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the phrase can be found in William Shakespeare's play "Henry V," believed to have been written around 1599. In Act IV, Scene 1, the character Henry V speaks of his loyal and valiant soldiers, praising them for their unwavering courage and noble deeds:
"Every subject's duty is the King's; but every subject's soul is his own.Therefore should every soldier in the wars do as every sick man in his bed, wash every mote out of his conscience; and dying so, death is to him advantage; or not dying, the time was blessedly lost wherein such preparation was gained; and in him that escapes, it were not sin to think that making God so free an offer, He let him outlive that day to see His greatness and to teach others how they should prepare.But, if it be a sin to covet honour, I am the most offending soul alive.No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour as one man more, methinks, would share from me for the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more! Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host, that he which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart; his passport shall be made, and crowns for convoy put into his purse; we would not die in that man's company that fears his fellowship to die with us.This day is called the feast of Crispian:He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,And rouse him at the name of Crispian.He that shall live this day, and see old age,Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,But he'll remember with advantagesWhat feats he did that day: then shall our names.Familiar in his mouth as household wordsHarry the king, Bedford and Exeter,Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.This story shall the good man teach his son;And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,From this day to the ending of the world,But we in it shall be remember'd;We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;For he to-day that sheds his blood with meShall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,This day shall gentle his condition:And gentlemen in England now a-bedShall think themselves accursed they were not here,And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaksThat fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
Here, Henry V extols the virtues of camaraderie, courage, and sacrifice, painting a vivid portrait of soldiers bound by a shared sense of duty and honor. The phrase "heart of gold" is not explicitly mentioned in the passage, but the sentiment of unwavering loyalty and selflessness embodied by the soldiers reflects the essence of the expression.
In the centuries since Shakespeare's time, the phrase "heart of gold" has become firmly entrenched in the lexicon of the English language, serving as a timeless reminder of the enduring power of kindness, compassion, and empathy. Whether used to describe a friend, a loved one, or a stranger, the phrase continues to resonate with people of all ages and walks of life, embodying the universal aspiration to be good and virtuous in a world often fraught with challenges and uncertainties.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the phrase can be found in William Shakespeare's play "Henry V," believed to have been written around 1599. In Act IV, Scene 1, the character Henry V speaks of his loyal and valiant soldiers, praising them for their unwavering courage and noble deeds:
"Every subject's duty is the King's; but every subject's soul is his own.Therefore should every soldier in the wars do as every sick man in his bed, wash every mote out of his conscience; and dying so, death is to him advantage; or not dying, the time was blessedly lost wherein such preparation was gained; and in him that escapes, it were not sin to think that making God so free an offer, He let him outlive that day to see His greatness and to teach others how they should prepare.But, if it be a sin to covet honour, I am the most offending soul alive.No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour as one man more, methinks, would share from me for the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more! Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host, that he which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart; his passport shall be made, and crowns for convoy put into his purse; we would not die in that man's company that fears his fellowship to die with us.This day is called the feast of Crispian:He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,And rouse him at the name of Crispian.He that shall live this day, and see old age,Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:'Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,But he'll remember with advantagesWhat feats he did that day: then shall our names.Familiar in his mouth as household wordsHarry the king, Bedford and Exeter,Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.This story shall the good man teach his son;And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,From this day to the ending of the world,But we in it shall be remember'd;We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;For he to-day that sheds his blood with meShall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,This day shall gentle his condition:And gentlemen in England now a-bedShall think themselves accursed they were not here,And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaksThat fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
Here, Henry V extols the virtues of camaraderie, courage, and sacrifice, painting a vivid portrait of soldiers bound by a shared sense of duty and honor. The phrase "heart of gold" is not explicitly mentioned in the passage, but the sentiment of unwavering loyalty and selflessness embodied by the soldiers reflects the essence of the expression.
In the centuries since Shakespeare's time, the phrase "heart of gold" has become firmly entrenched in the lexicon of the English language, serving as a timeless reminder of the enduring power of kindness, compassion, and empathy. Whether used to describe a friend, a loved one, or a stranger, the phrase continues to resonate with people of all ages and walks of life, embodying the universal aspiration to be good and virtuous in a world often fraught with challenges and uncertainties.