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
But most it is presumption in us when the help of heaven we count the act of men.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often overestimate their own actions, attributing success to divine intervention rather than human effort.
In this quote, Shakespeare reflects on the tendency of humans to presume that their achievements are solely the result of their own actions, while neglecting the role of divine assistance or fate. It suggests a caution against arrogance and an acknowledgment of the external influences that may contribute to our successes.
Themes
PresumptionSuccessDivineHuman EffortArrogance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about humility in success, one might use this quote to remind the audience of the importance of recognizing help from outside oneself.
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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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