# What does ‘actions speak louder than words’ mean?

To “actions speak louder than words” means to behaviour reveals intent more truly than speech does. The proverb is recorded in English by the 17th century in various forms; Brewer's includes it in the classic proverb stock.

## What it means

- The proverb is recorded in English by the 17th century in various forms; Brewer's includes it in the classic proverb stock.

## Action steps

1. Common rebuke of empty promises.
2. Example: Never mind the apology — actions speak louder than words.

## Sources

- [Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898) — Internet Archive scan](https://archive.org/details/brewers-dictionary-of-phrase-and-fable)

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