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).
Where the bee sucks, there suck I In the cow-slip's bell i lie There I couch when owls do cry
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a deep connection to nature, illustrating a desire for harmony with the natural world.
In this quote from Shakespeare, the speaker conveys a profound yearning to find solace and belonging within the beauty of nature. The imagery of bees, flowers, and owls symbolizes an intimate relationship with the natural environment, suggesting that true comfort can be found in the tranquility and simplicity of nature, particularly when it is untouched by human civilization. This reflects the idea that nature is not only a refuge but also a source of inspiration and peace.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about preserving the environment, one could quote this to emphasize the connection we share with nature.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes βLove 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.
Similar quotes
I believe the accepted model of capitalism that demands endless growth deserves the blame for the destruction of nature, and it should be displaced. Failing that, I try to work with those companies and help them change the way they think about our resources.
With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you're connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live.
When we plant trees, we plant the seeds of peace and seeds of hope.
The gifts of nature are infinite in their variety, and mind differs from mind almost as much as body from body.
Animal life, sombre mystery. All nature protests against the barbarity of man, who misapprehends, who humiliates, who tortures his inferior brethren.
The ocean is a mighty harmonist.