As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
William ShakespeareRead
Ah, what a sign it is of evil life, Where death's approach is seen so terrible!
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects the fear and horror associated with death, highlighting the negativity of life when death looms large.
In this quote, Shakespeare expresses a profound contemplation on the nature of life and death. He suggests that when the presence of death is felt acutely and evokes terror, it serves as a sign of the inherent evils and suffering that pervade life itself. This perspective emphasizes the dark aspects of existence and how they can overshadow the beauty of living, leading to a grim outlook on human experience.
Themes
DeathLifeFearEvilExistence
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about existential philosophy, one might quote this to illustrate the darker aspects of life.
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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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