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
Art thou afeard To be the same in thine own act and valour As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou have that Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, And live a coward in thine own esteem, Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,' Like the poor cat i' the adage?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote challenges individuals to align their actions with their desires rather than succumbing to fear.
In this passage, Shakespeare prompts introspection about the conflict between aspiration and action. He suggests that true valor is not just in desire but in the courage to act on those desires. By likening inaction to cowardice, he emphasizes that one should not let fear dictate their choices, which leads to a life unfulfilled and dictated by 'I dare not' instead of 'I would.' The reference to 'the poor cat i' the adage' reinforces the idea that caution can lead to missed opportunities.
Themes
CourageFearActionDesireSelf-Esteem
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about overcoming fears and pursuing dreams.
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
He was going to be armed with his wand - which, just now, felt like nothing more than a narrow strip of wood - against a fifty-foot-high, scaly, spike-ridden, fire-breathing dragon.
J. K. RowlingRead
It's a struggle for every young Black man. You know how it is, only God can judge us.
Tupac ShakurRead
A most insidious form of fear is that which masquerades as common sense or even wisdom, condemning as foolish, reckless, insignificant or futile the small, daily acts of courage which help to preserve man's self-respect and inherent human dignity.
Aung San Suu KyiRead
I've run into more discrimination as a woman than as an Indian.
Wilma MankillerRead
My old man says when it's time to be counted, the important thing is to be man enough to stand up.
Robert A. HeinleinRead
Journalists dedicate their lives to covering war - they make many personal sacrifices, and it's not something that's gender-based. In a place like Libya where there's heavy fighting, it doesn't matter if you're a man or a woman.
Lynsey AddarioRead