“Empty vessels make the most noise” is the proverb that links loudness to a lack of substance. Here is what it means, where it comes from, how to use it, and a few sayings that share its insight.
What Does “Empty Vessels Make the Most Noise” Mean?
The proverb means that the people who talk the loudest, boast the most, and make the biggest show are often the ones with the least knowledge, wisdom, or substance behind them. Just as an empty barrel or pot rings out loudly when struck, while a full one gives only a dull, solid thud, the shallow mind makes the most noise while the deep one stays quiet. It is a caution not to be impressed by mere volume.
Origin of the Proverb
The idea is ancient — it can be traced back to the philosophers of classical Greece — and it was well established in English by the time of Shakespeare, who put a version of it in Henry V (1599): “I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true — the empty vessel makes the greatest sound.” The homely image of the ringing empty pot has kept the proverb in use ever since.
Examples in a Sentence
- “He boasts endlessly but knows little — empty vessels make the most noise.”
- “The loudest critic had read none of the book; empty vessels make the most noise.”
- “Don’t be impressed by all that bluster — empty vessels make the most noise.”
Similar Proverbs
- Still waters run deep — the opposite: the quiet often have the most depth.
- Barking dogs seldom bite — the noisiest are the least to be feared.
- An empty cart rattles loudly — the Korean version of the same idea.
- The shallowest brook babbles the most — shallowness is the noisiest.
For more shrewd observations of human nature, see our smart thoughts and the full library of proverbs and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “empty vessels make the most noise” mean?
It means that the people who talk loudest and boast most are often those with the least knowledge or substance behind them.
Where does the proverb come from?
The idea is ancient, traced to classical Greece, and Shakespeare used a version in Henry V (1599): “the empty vessel makes the greatest sound.”
What is a similar proverb?
“Still waters run deep” is its mirror image, and “barking dogs seldom bite” shares the idea that the noisiest are least to be feared.