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
Children wish fathers looked but with their eyes; fathers that children with their judgment looked; and either may be wrong.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the disconnect between children's perceptions of their fathers and fathers' expectations of their children.
In this quote, Shakespeare emphasizes the generational gap in understanding and perspective between fathers and children. Children often see their fathers through a lens of admiration and desire for approval, while fathers may expect their children to possess the maturity and judgment they have developed over years. This inherent difference can lead to misunderstandings where either party might be wrong in their assumptions about the other.
Themes
FathersChildrenPerspectiveJudgmentUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a father-child relationship workshop, this quote can inspire discussions about perceptions and expectations.
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