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
When lenity and cruelty play for a kingdom, the gentler gamester is the soonest winner
Interpretation
What this quote means
Gentleness and kindness often lead to victory over harshness and cruelty.
In this quote, Shakespeare suggests that when mercy and cruelty compete for dominance, it is the compassionate and kind-hearted individual who ultimately prevails. This reflects a deeper understanding of human nature and power dynamics, emphasizing that kindness and gentleness can achieve success where brutality fails.
Themes
KindnessGentlenessVictoryCrueltyPower
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during discussions on conflict resolution.
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Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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