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
And do as adversaries do in law, strive mightily, but eat and drink as friends.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of competing fiercely but maintaining camaraderie and friendship outside of competition.
In this quote, Shakespeare reflects on the duality of human interactions, particularly in competitive contexts. It suggests that while one should strive hard and compete with zeal like adversaries do in a legal battle, it is equally important to share moments of joy and fellowship, symbolized by eating and drinking together, reinforcing the idea that competition does not negate the value of friendship.
Themes
CompetitionFriendshipCamaraderieAdversariesMeaningful Relationships
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about teamwork in sports, highlighting the need to push each other while still nurturing friendships.
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
To fully understand the black immigrant experience in the U.S., we must understand it not in contrast to the African-American experience, but central to it.
Opal TometiRead
Now, revealing that you're a keeper is no guarantee that this guy won't just walk away. Some men really are just sport fishing and have no intention of doing anything more than throwing back the women they bed. If this is the cae with this man, then let him walk-what do you care? He's not the guy you're looking for.
Steve HarveyRead
Band-Aids don't fix bullet holes. You say sorry just for show. You live like that, you live with ghosts.
Taylor SwiftRead
We all agree that marriage is a fundamental right. And in our country, and in our society, there are no second-class citizens.
Bill T. JonesRead
What do you know of my heart? What do you know of anything but your own suffering. For weeks, Marianne, I've had this pressing on me without being at liberty to speak of it to a single creature. It was forced on me by the very person whose prior claims ruined all my hope. I have endured her exultations again and again whilst knowing myself to be divided from Edward forever. Believe me, Marianne, had I not been bound to silence I could have provided proof enough of a broken heart, even for you.
Jane AustenRead
Nothing flatters a man as much as the happiness of his wife; he is always proud of himself as the source of it.
Samuel JohnsonRead