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
Night's candles have burned out, and jocund day stands tiptoe on the misty mountaintops." Hope tinged with melancholy - like life.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the transition from night to day, symbolizing hope and the complexity of life.
In this quote, Shakespeare uses the metaphor of day approaching after night to illustrate the inevitability of change in life. The contrasting feelings of hope and melancholy suggest that life is a blend of joy and sorrow, much like the dawn that brings light but also reflects the end of night, highlighting the transient nature of time and experiences.
Themes
HopeChangeLifeMelancholyDayNight
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech, one might say, 'Night's candles have burned out, and jocund day stands tiptoe on the misty mountaintops' to encourage students to embrace the new beginnings ahead.
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