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
But when I came, alas, to wive, With hey, ho, the wind and the rain, By swaggering could I never thrive, For the rain it raineth every day.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the inevitability of life's hardships and the futility of trying to succeed without adapting to circumstances.
In this quote, Shakespeare suggests that despite one's efforts to thrive or succeed in life (symbolized by 'swaggering'), true achievement can be hindered by unavoidable challenges and the persistence of difficulties ('the rain it raineth every day'). The imagery of wind and rain represents the trials and tribulations that everyone faces, emphasizing that success requires more than mere bravado; it requires resilience and adaptation to the harsh realities of life.
Themes
LifeChallengesResilienceAdaptationStruggles
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech, one might say, 'Remember what Shakespeare said about the rain; we must adapt to life's challenges.'
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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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