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
O God of battles! steel my soldiers’ hearts. Possess them not with fear.
Interpretation
What this quote means
A plea for bravery and strength in the face of fear during battle.
In this quote, Shakespeare invokes divine power to fortify his soldiers against fear, highlighting the struggle between courage and fear in times of conflict. It reflects the human desire for strength and reassurance when facing daunting challenges, suggesting that unwavering hearts are crucial for victory in battle.
Themes
CourageFearStrengthBattleBravery
In practice
Example use cases
A motivational speech before a sports match to inspire players to overcome their anxiety.
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