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
Modest doubt is called the beacon of the wise.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Having a small amount of doubt can help guide wise decisions.
This quote suggests that a reasonable level of doubt can serve as a guiding light for those who are wise. It implies that questioning and being open to uncertainty are crucial for deeper understanding and better decision-making, as wisdom often comes from considering multiple perspectives and recognizing the limitations of one's knowledge.
Themes
DoubtWisdomGuidanceUnderstandingDecision-Making
In practice
Example use cases
In a classroom discussion about critical thinking, this quote can emphasize the importance of doubt in learning.
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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