OTHELLO: Is he not honest?
IAGO: Honest, my lord!
OTHELLO: Honest! ay, honest.
IAGO: My lord, for aught I know.
OTHELLO: What dost thou think?
IAGO: Think, my lord!
– William Shakespeare
Othello, Act 3, Scene 3. Iago appears hesitant in his answers to Othello, repeating whatever Othello says to him. He is giving the impression that he may be holding back something about Cassio’s honesty. The implication is that Cassio might be less than honest.