Kind hearts and coronets

Posted by Smokey Stover April 27, 2006In reply to A big heart is better than a big house? posted by David FG on April 26, 2006

What is the meaning of A big heart is better than a big house?

It means that because you give away many of your assets to the needy or use your spare time doing volunteer work instead of earning money, you may not be able to afford certain luxuries.

And, to quote from memory (so I hope people won't be too upset if the wording is not absolutely correct):

'Kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood'.

It is better to be a decent human being than to have riches and power.

DFG

Your memory is flawless, David. Your quotation is from Alfred Lord Tennyson's 1842 poem "Lady Clara Vere de Vere," and provided the title for Alec Guinness' 1949 cinematic tour de force, "Kind Hearts and Coronets." SS