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
Free from gross passion or of mirth of anger constant spirit, not swerving with the blood, garnish'd and deck'd in modest compliment, not working with the eye without the ear, and but in purged judgement trusting neither? Such and so finely bolted didst thou seem.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the importance of moderation and balanced judgment in one's character.
In this quote, Shakespeare contemplates the qualities of a person who is free from extreme emotions like anger and passion. He emphasizes the value of having a composed spirit, showing that true wisdom comes from a balanced perspective that engages the senses with thoughtful consideration rather than impulsive reactions.
Themes
ModerationJudgmentWisdomBalanceCharacter
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a leadership seminar to emphasize the importance of calm decision-making.
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