"I quite agree with you," said the Duchess; "and the moral of that is-'Be what you would seem to be'." This highlights the importance of honesty and authenticity, encouraging individuals to act as they truly are and not pretend to be something they are not. The statement emphasizes that appearances can be deceiving, and true integrity involves aligning one's actions with one's true nature.

The Duchess elaborates further, saying, "or, if you'd like it put more simply-'Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.'" This complex advice suggests that people should be honest about their true selves and avoid pretending or acting in ways that conflict with how they would like to be perceived, as seeming to be something different can create confusion or dishonesty.