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
It provokes the desire but it takes away the performance. Therefore much drink may be said to be an equivocator with lechery: it makes him and it mars him; it sets him on and it takes him off.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the paradox of indulgence, where excessive drinking can stimulate desire yet hinder one's ability to act on it.
In this quote from Shakespeare, the author reflects on the contradictory nature of alcohol and its effects on human behavior. While drinking may incite passion or desire, it simultaneously diminishes one's capacity to effectively pursue those desires. This duality emphasizes the struggle between temptation and the ability to act upon one's wishes, suggesting that self-indulgence is often a double-edged sword that enhances certain experiences while undermining others.
Themes
DesirePerformanceDrinkingTemptationIndulgence
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during discussions about the effects of alcohol on relationships.
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