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
Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you-trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it, as many of your players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and as I may say, the whirlwind of your passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the importance of delivering speeches with authenticity and control, avoiding exaggeration and insincerity.
In this quote, Shakespeare advises actors on how to deliver their lines effectively. He stresses that a genuine performance should flow naturally and not be marred by artificiality or over-exaggeration. The imagery of a storm contrasts with the need for temperance, suggesting that while passion is vital in a performance, it should be tempered with skill and moderation to create a smooth and engaging delivery.
Themes
AuthenticityPerformancePassionControlTheatre
In practice
Example use cases
In a drama class, the teacher might use this quote to encourage students to focus on genuine expression.
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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