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
I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more, is none
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of knowing one's limits and the distinction between bravery and recklessness.
In this quote, Shakespeare expresses the idea that true courage is about understanding the appropriate limits of one's actions. A man should strive to act in a way that is noble and fitting, but overstepping those bounds often leads to one's downfall. The essence of manhood lies in the balance between bravery and wisdom, suggesting that one must not confuse daring deeds with true virtue.
Themes
CourageLimitBraveryWisdomManhood
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech to encourage students to pursue their dreams.
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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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