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
I love a ballad in print o' life, for then we are sure they are true.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Shakespeare appreciates the authenticity of life captured in written ballads.
In this quote, Shakespeare reflects on the power of written ballads to convey genuine truths about life. He values the way these narratives, when captured in print, provide a reliable and authentic representation of human experiences and emotions, allowing readers to connect deeply with the essence of life.
Themes
BalladLifeTruthAuthenticityArt
In practice
Example use cases
During a poetry reading, the host could use this quote to highlight the significance of written works in conveying emotional truths.
More from William Shakespeare
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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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