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
There is no vice so simple but assumes some mark of virtue on his outward parts.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that even the simplest wrongdoings often disguise themselves with an appearance of virtue.
William Shakespeare's quote highlights the notion that vice, no matter how straightforward, often presents itself with a facade of virtue. This speaks to the complexity of human behavior, where individuals may hide their true intentions or actions behind a veneer of moral righteousness, making it essential for people to look beyond appearances to discern true character and motives.
Themes
ViceVirtueAppearanceDeceptionHuman Nature
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophical discussion about morality, this quote can illustrate how people often misinterpret actions based on their external appearance.
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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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