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
Soft pity enters an iron gate.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that gentleness or compassion can penetrate even the strongest barriers.
In this quote, Shakespeare implies that soft emotions, such as pity, have the power to transcend formidable obstacles symbolized by the 'iron gate.' This reflects the idea that emotional strength, compassion, and understanding can overcome hard-heartedness or rigidity, fostering connection and healing even in the most challenging circumstances.
Themes
PityCompassionStrengthBarriersEmotions
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of empathy in leadership.
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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