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
A beggar's book outworths a noble's blood.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The value of knowledge or wisdom surpasses noble birth or wealth.
In this quote, Shakespeare emphasizes the idea that true worth is not derived from social status or lineage, but from wisdom and knowledge. A beggar, representing the common man, can possess greater insight and understanding than someone born into wealth and privilege, illustrating that merit and value come from within rather than from external circumstances.
Themes
WisdomKnowledgeValueSocial StatusEquality
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on the importance of education, one might reference this quote to highlight that intelligence is more valuable than wealth.
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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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