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
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness Is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart. O, what a goodly outside falsehood hath!
Interpretation
This quote suggests that people can manipulate good teachings for their own malevolent purposes, highlighting the deceptive nature of appearances.
In this quote by William Shakespeare, the speaker reflects on the idea that evil individuals can twist and use sacred texts or noble ideas to serve their own interests. The metaphor of a seemingly beautiful apple that is rotten inside illustrates how external appearances can be misleading, emphasizing the danger of being deceived by a facade that hides true intentions.
In practice
In a discussion about integrity and authenticity, one might quote this to illustrate the dangers of false appearances.
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.
The inscrutable wisdom through which we exist is not less worthy of veneration in respect to what it denies us than in respect to what it has granted.
There is little less trouble in governing a private family than a whole kingdom.
Too often a story is examined through biased eyes, without a sensitivity for everyone who forged it. It's seen from the point of view of the great white savior, and rarely is the perspective of the slave a part.
A lie which is half a truth is ever the blackest of lies.
Take what you can yourself, and don't let others get you into their hands; to belong to oneself, that is the whole thing in life.
All you need to do is recognize your true position as the witness. You only have to do this for some time, until the spell is broken. Even after the spell is broken these mental tendencies may arise, but without any power, just like you can see the moon in the daylight.
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