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 am misanthropos, and hate mankind, For thy part, I do wish thou wert a dog, That I might love thee something.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker expresses a deep disdain for humanity, yet longs for a profound connection with at least one individual.
In this quote, the speaker reveals a conflict between their misanthropic views and a desire for companionship. Despite a general hatred for mankind, the speaker yearns for an intimate bond, suggesting that they would prefer to love someone who is more akin to a loyal dog than a complex human being. This highlights the complexity of human emotions where one can feel isolation while simultaneously craving connection.
Themes
MisanthropyLoveHumanityConnectionDisdain
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a philosophical discussion about human relationships.
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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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