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
Forever, and forever, farewell, Cassius! If we do meet again, why, we shall smile; If not, why then this parting was well made.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses a bittersweet farewell, contemplating the uncertainty of future meetings and the acceptance of parting.
In this quote from William Shakespeare, the speaker reflects on the nature of farewells and the possibility of reunion. It conveys a sense of acceptance, suggesting that if they do meet again, they will share smiles, emphasizing the importance of connection, while also acknowledging that if they do not, the parting is justified, highlighting a deeper philosophical understanding of relationships and the transient nature of life.
Themes
FarewellPartingMeetingAcceptanceRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
You might use this quote during a graduation ceremony to reflect on friendships formed.
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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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