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
Crowns have their compass-length of days their date-_x000D_ _x000D_ Triumphs their tomb-felicity, her fate-_x000D_ _x000D_ Of nought but earth can earth make us partaker,_x000D_ _x000D_ But knowledge makes a king most like his Maker.
Interpretation
The quote highlights the transient nature of earthly achievements and the enduring value of knowledge.
In this quote, Shakespeare reflects on the fleeting nature of worldly success and the importance of knowledge. While earthly crowns symbolize power and triumphs may bring temporary happiness, it is knowledge that elevates a person, making them resemble the divine. This suggests that true greatness is not found in material or temporal accolades but in the pursuit of wisdom and understanding.
In practice
Use this quote in a graduation speech to emphasize the importance of lifelong learning.
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).
Love 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.
Talent, will and genius are natural phenomena like the lake, the volcano, the mountain, the wind, the star, the cloud.
Once you learn to choose your belongings properly, you will be left with only the amount that fits perfectly in the space you own.
An overdose of praise is like 10 lumps of sugar in coffee; only a very few people can swallow it.
Only the suppressed word is dangerous.
Age doesn't bother me. So many of my heroes were older guys. It's the lack of years left that weighs far heavier on me than the age that I am.
How can you make sense of the future when you only have data about the past?
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.