Honni soit qui mal y pense

ByFast French

“Honni soit qui mal y pense” means “shame to he who sees evil in it.” In modern French (not the saying’s original Middle French), this would be “honte à celui qui y voit du mal.” This is the motto of the Order of the Garter, the most important order of knighthood in Britain.

The story goes that in the 1340s, Catherine Grandison, Countess of Salisbury, was dancing when her garter slipped from her leg. The other courtiers sniggered, but the king picked it up and gave it back to her, saying “Honni soit qui mal y pense” meaning “shame on him who thinks ill of it.”

The expression is used these days to chasten those who suspect bad intentions behind what is basically an innocent act. The king reinforced his statement by creating the Order of the Garter so that his courtiers would see the blue garter as a sign of honour and something to which they should aspire.

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