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
Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that a deep understanding often complicates relationships and the pursuit of peace.
In this quote, Shakespeare implies that those who possess wisdom may find themselves at odds with each other, as their intellect allows them to perceive the complexities of peace and conflict. The recognition that neither party intends to engage in a peaceful resolution highlights the tension between intellect and interpersonal dynamics, suggesting that the pursuit of harmony may require a level of ignorance or simplicity that wise individuals do not possess.
Themes
WisdomConflictPeaceRelationshipsUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the complexities of international relations, this quote can highlight the challenges of negotiating peace.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes βLove bears it out even to the edge of doom.
William ShakespeareRead
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
William ShakespeareRead
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
William ShakespeareRead
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
William ShakespeareRead
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
William ShakespeareRead
Similar quotes
Wherever there is a man who exercises authority, there is a man who resists authority.
Oscar WildeRead
The cat sat on the mat is not a story. The cat sat on the other catβs mat is a story.
John Le CarreRead
Because something or someone looks or acts differently from us does not necessarily mean that it is ugly or bad.
Gene RoddenberryRead
Not hear it? --yes, I hear it, and have heard it. Long --long --long --many minutes, many hours, many days, have I heard it --yet I dared not --oh, pity me, miserable wretch that I am! --I dared not --I dared not speak! We have put her living in the tomb!
Edgar Allan PoeRead
When we blame all Muslims, all Syrians, or all members of any other group because of the actions of individuals, we fall into the trap of asserting collective guilt. We empower the narrow-minded ideology that we are trying to defeat.
Samantha PowerRead
The awakening of the soul to its bondage and its effort to stand up and assert itself - this is called life.
Swami VivekanandaRead