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
Trifles light as air are to the jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ.
Interpretation
Jealousy can make trivial things seem significant and proof of betrayal.
In this quote, Shakespeare highlights the impact of jealousy on perception. He suggests that even the smallest, most inconsequential details can be magnified and construed as evidence of disloyalty in the eyes of a jealous person, illustrating the destructive nature of envy in relationships.
In practice
During a discussion on trust issues in relationships, this quote illustrates how jealousy can distort reality.
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).
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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If fear is the great enemy of intimacy, love is its true friend.
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