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
Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel; But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatch'd, unfledg'd comrade.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Value and hold close to your true friends while being wary of new acquaintances.
This quote from Shakespeare emphasizes the importance of true friendship and loyalty. It suggests that while one should cherish and strengthen bonds with established friends, they must also be cautious and discerning about new relationships, as not every new acquaintance deserves your emotional investment.
Themes
FriendshipLoyaltyRelationshipsTrustCaution
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech about the value of lifelong friendships.
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Similar quotes
I never could get on with representative individuals but people who existed on their own account and with whom it might therefore be possible to be friends.
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We all started playing football against our best friends, and I can't remember a moment where, because it was my best friend, I did not want to win against him.
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Here's a toast to the roast that good fellowship lends, with the sparkle of beer and wine; May its sentiment always be deeper, my friends, than the foam at the top of the stein. Then here's to the heartening wassail, wherever good fellows are found; Be its master instead of its vassal, and order the glasses around.
Ogden NashRead
One Best Book is Equal To Hundred Good Friends But One Good Friend is Equal To A Library.
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The best thing you can possibly do for a friend is to be his friend.
Pierre TrudeauRead
Treat a friend as a person who may someday become your enemy; an enemy as a person who may someday become your friend.
George Bernard ShawRead