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
what cannot be saved when fate takes, patience her injury a mockery makes
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the inevitability of fate and how patience can turn suffering into mockery.
In this quote, Shakespeare illustrates the theme of fate's uncontrollable nature, suggesting that when one loses something to destiny, the emotional toll of waiting can lead to further suffering. The notion of patience turning into mockery emphasizes how waiting for something that is lost can lead to additional pain, as it is a reminder of what is no longer attainable.
In practice
This quote can be used in a speech about overcoming adversity and the challenges of accepting loss.
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).
Love 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.
If your religion doesn't respect the rights of other religions, it is lacking something.
There are slavish souls who carry their appreciation for favors done them so far that they strangle themselves with the rope of gratitude.
Life is not determined by consciousness, but consciousness by life.
The sole means of protecting your solitude is to offend everyone, beginning with those you love.
To the rulers of the state then, if to any, it belongs of right to use falsehood, to deceive either enemies or their own citizens, for the good of the state: and no one else may meddle with this privilege.
The gods made our bodies as well as our souls, is it not so? They give us voices, so we might worship them with song. They give us hands, so we might build them temples. And they give us desire, so we might mate and worship them in that way.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.