Just like a pen, your tongue merely repeats the words of others; you should give up this undue pride over something that is not yours.

Here, the poet uses the vivid metaphor of a pen, which has no mind of its own and merely scribbles whatever its master commands, to describe someone who mindlessly echoes borrowed thoughts. It is a sharp yet thoughtful critique of pretense, gently mocking those who boast of wisdom or glory that does not genuinely belong to them. The couplet urges us toward intellectual honesty and self-awareness, reminding us that true dignity lies in our own authentic truth rather than borrowed plumage.