Are you looking for a way to express the frustration and anxiety of making hard decisions? You could use the phrase 'uneasy is the head that wears a crown' to describe their emotional state.
This phrase unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.
Meaning
The expression 'uneasy lies the head that wears a crown' means that you’re dealing with stress and anxiety caused by carrying a heavy burden in your life.
The person feels stressed and on edge all the time and operates under huge pressure. The expression means that you struggle with maintaining a balance in your life due to environmental and social pressures.
Example Usage
“I’m under a lot of pressure at work at the moment. We’re bleeding cash this quarter, and everyone is looking to me to provide direction. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.”
“We have a crisis and need effective leadership to navigate us through this time. Look at how stressed the Prime minister is at the situation. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.”
“Making tough decisions as a manager is just part of the job. I must do it to grow in the company and as a person. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.”
Origin
The expression ‘uneasy lies the head that wears a crown’ originates from a misquote of a line from a play by William Shakespeare.
The original phrase appears in his play, ‘King Richard IV Part 2’, during the first scene in act 3. The expression appears in its original form as follows.
“That, with the hurly, death itself awakes?
Canst thou, O partial sleep, give thy repose
To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude,
And in the calmest and most stillest night,
With all appliances and means to boot,
Deny it to a king? Then happy low, lie down!
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”
It’s unclear when the more popular version, ‘uneasy is the head that wears the crown,’ appeared as a replacement for the original phrase, but it’s the more common variant today.
Phrases Similar to Uneasy Lies the Head that Wears a Crown
- With great power comes great responsibility.
Phrases Opposite to Uneasy Lies the Head that Wears a Crown
- No responsibilities, no worries.
- Don’t worry, be happy.
What is the Correct Saying?
- Uneasy is the head that wears a crown.
- Uneasy is the head that wears the crown.
Ways People May Say Uneasy Lies the Head that Wears a Crown Incorrectly
The phrase has nothing do with wearing crows. The crown is your responsibilities and duties in life, and ‘Uneasy’ means that they weigh on your conscience. It’s common for people to phrase the expression as ‘uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.’ Both sayings are correct and used interchangeably.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Uneasy Lies the Head that Wears a Crown
You can use the phrase ‘uneasy lies the head that wears a crown’ in situations where you want to express your burden of responsibility to others. It suits professional and social situations. You could use it at work to describe making difficult management decisions. Use it at home to explain the burden associated with being a breadwinner for your family.
The expression ‘uneasy lies the head that wears a crown’ describes a situation where you feel stressed and anxious. It’s a way of saying that you’re having difficulty handling a situation and don’t know what to do. It can also refer to feelings of regret or sorrow for making bad or hard decisions that impact other people’s lives.