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
Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin, as self-neglecting.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Self-love is important and shouldn’t be viewed negatively; neglecting oneself is far worse.
This quote by Shakespeare emphasizes the significance of self-love, suggesting that caring for oneself is a virtue rather than a vice. It implies that neglecting one’s own needs and well-being is a more serious error, indicating that to love oneself is essential for a balanced and fulfilling life.
Themes
Self-LoveSelf-CareNeglectWell-BeingImportance
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about mental health, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of prioritizing one’s own needs.
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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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