it is not enough to speak, but to speak true illustrates

Analyze the question: The line "It is not enough to speak, but to speak true" is a short, witty, memorable statement that expresses a general truth. It comes from Shakespeare (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 5). The question asks which literary term it illustrates.

Explain the concepts:

• Parable: A short story, usually with human characters, that teaches a moral or spiritual lesson (e.g., the Parable of the Good Samaritan). The line is not a story.
• Epitaph: An inscription or short piece of writing on a tombstone in memory of a dead person. The line is not about a dead person.
• Wisecrack: A smart, flippant, joking remark. The line is serious and moral, not a joke.
• Epigram: A brief, concise, pointed statement that expresses a truth or observation in a memorable, often balanced way.

Solution:

1. The line is short and compact.
2. It states a general moral truth: speaking is not enough, honesty matters.
3. It uses a balanced structure ("not enough to speak, but to speak true") that makes it memorable and quotable.
4. These are the features of an epigram.

The line is not a story (so not a parable), not a tombstone inscription (so not an epitaph), and not a joke (so not a wisecrack).

Tip: Think of an epigram as a "mini-saying": a short line packed with wisdom, often witty or balanced. If a question gives a one-line general truth, look for "epigram" or "aphorism." Remember Epitaph = End of life (tomb), and Parable = Plot (story).