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).
Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear, Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the idea that the departure of a ruler or king signifies both a loss of freedom and a sense of exile.
In this quote from Shakespeare, the speaker addresses a king, lamenting that his departure marks the end of freedom for the people, as his rule is associated with their autonomy and well-being. The sentiment captures the deep connection between governance and liberty, suggesting that a ruler's absence brings about banishmentβnot only in the physical sense but also in terms of the people's rights and freedoms.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of political engagement, one might reference this quote to emphasize the consequences of losing a leader.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes βLove bears it out even to the edge of doom.
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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Now that we are poor, we are free. No white man controls our footsteps.