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
Come my spade. There is no ancient gentlemen but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers; they hold up Adam's profession.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the humble yet essential roles of those who work with the earth, emphasizing the value of their labor.
In this quote from Shakespeare, the speaker highlights that the roles of gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers are fundamental to human existence, connecting them to the original duty of Adam to cultivate the earth. It suggests that the most profound professions are often those that are overlooked, yet they are vital for sustaining life and honoring the cycle of existence.
Themes
GardeningLaborExistenceProfessionHumility
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of manual labor, one might quote this to emphasize respect for all professions.
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