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
Company, villainous company, hath been the spoil of me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The influence of detrimental companions has led to my downfall.
In this quote from Shakespeare, the speaker reflects on how toxic or negative relationships, referred to as 'villainous company', have corrupted and harmed them. It highlights the profound impact that one's associations and friendships can have on a person's character and life trajectory, suggesting that surrounding oneself with bad influences can lead to personal ruin.
Themes
CompanyInfluenceRelationshipsToxicFriendship
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of choosing friends wisely.
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