More honoured in the breach than in the observance

What's the meaning of the phrase 'More honoured in the breach than in the observance'?

This is usually thought to mean a rule which is more often broken than observed. The context of the play shows the real meaning as ‘it is more honourable to breach than to observe’.

What's the origin of the phrase 'More honoured in the breach than in the observance'?

From Shakespeare’s Hamlet, 1602:

HAMLET Ay, marry, is’t:
But to my mind, though I am native here
And to the manner born, it is a custom
More honour’d in the breach than the observance.

Browse more Phrases

About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

More honoured in the breach than in the observance

Phrases & Meanings

A-Z

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T UV W XYZ