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
We are such stuff as dreams are made on; and our little life is rounded with a sleep.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that our existence is fleeting and shaped by our dreams and experiences.
In this quote from Shakespeare's 'The Tempest', the playwright reflects on the ephemeral nature of life and how our dreams and aspirations are integral to our identity. It implies that life is a fragile, temporary experience, much like a dream that fades upon waking, urging us to contemplate the significance of our experiences and the inevitable end that comes with life.
Themes
DreamsLifeEphemeralExistenceShakespeare
In practice
Example use cases
Use this quote in a speech about the importance of pursuing one's dreams.
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