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
Angels and ministers of grace defend us!_x000D_ _x000D_ Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damn'd,_x000D_ _x000D_ Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell,_x000D_ _x000D_ Be thy intents wicked, or charitable,_x000D_ _x000D_ Thou com'st in such a questionable shape,_x000D_ _x000D_ That I will speak to thee.
Interpretation
The quote expresses a desire for divine protection while grappling with the duality of good and evil.
In this quote, the speaker calls upon angels and ministers of grace for protection, acknowledging the ambiguous nature of the spirit they are addressing. Whether the spirit is one of health or a malevolent being, the speaker is open to communication, highlighting the complexity of existence and the interplay between good and evil. This contemplation reflects a philosophical inquiry into the nature of intentions and appearances.
In practice
In a public speech about ethics, one might refer to this quote when discussing the need for guidance amidst moral dilemmas.
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).
Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
War is the suicide of humanity because it kills the heart and kills love.
All justice is inherently social. Can someone on a desert island be either just or unjust?
Whether wine is a nourishment, medicine or poison is a matter of dosage
Nobody is qualified to become a statesman who is entirely ignorant of the problem of wheat.
The very flag of freedom that waves over our heads is formed from material cultivated by slaves, on soil moistened with their blood drawn from them by the whip of a republican taskmaster!
Surely the immutable laws of the universe can teach more impressive and exalted lessons than the holy books of all the religions on earth.
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