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
Angels and ministers of grace defend us!_x000D_ _x000D_ Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damn'd,_x000D_ _x000D_ Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell,_x000D_ _x000D_ Be thy intents wicked, or charitable,_x000D_ _x000D_ Thou com'st in such a questionable shape,_x000D_ _x000D_ That I will speak to thee.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a desire for divine protection while grappling with the duality of good and evil.
In this quote, the speaker calls upon angels and ministers of grace for protection, acknowledging the ambiguous nature of the spirit they are addressing. Whether the spirit is one of health or a malevolent being, the speaker is open to communication, highlighting the complexity of existence and the interplay between good and evil. This contemplation reflects a philosophical inquiry into the nature of intentions and appearances.
Themes
AngelsSpiritualityGoodEvilCommunicationProtection
In practice
Example use cases
In a public speech about ethics, one might refer to this quote when discussing the need for guidance amidst moral dilemmas.
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