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
That which in mean men we entitle patience is pale cold cowardice in noble breasts.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True patience is a virtue of the noble, whereas in lesser individuals, it may be a mask for cowardice.
In this quote, Shakespeare contrasts the concept of patience as perceived by those of lower character with the true strength it represents in noble individuals. He suggests that what some may view as patience in mean-spirited people is often nothing more than cowardice, while for those with noble hearts, patience is a testament to their strength and self-control.
Themes
PatienceCowardiceNobilityStrengthCharacter
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about overcoming challenges, one might reference this quote to emphasize the true nature of patience.
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