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
Romans, countrymen, and lovers, hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker calls for attention and silence to present a vital message, suggesting the importance of listening to others.
In this quote, the speaker, likely appealing to a diverse audience of Romans, countrymen, and lovers, emphasizes the necessity of setting aside distractions and being receptive to an important message. This call for silence signifies the value of focused listening in understanding and addressing the issues at hand, reflecting on the need for communal engagement and understanding in societal matters.
Themes
CommunicationListeningAttentionMessageSilence
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate on a controversial topic, this quote can remind participants to listen carefully before responding.
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Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
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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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We can never be sure that the opinion we are endeavoring to stifle is a false opinion; and if we were sure, stifling it would be an evil still.
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All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you'll be quite a lot!
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