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
To beguile the time, look like the time. Bear welcome in your eye, your hand, your tongue.
Interpretation
What this quote means
To fit in and enjoy the moment, one must align their appearance and behavior with the situation.
This quote by William Shakespeare suggests that in order to truly engage with the present and make the most of the time we have, it is important to present ourselves in a way that resonates with the circumstances. When we embody the spirit of the time and extend a warm welcome through our expressions and words, we not only enrich our own experience but also positively influence those around us.
Themes
BeguileTimeWelcomeEyeHandTongue
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about adapting to social environments.
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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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