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
God has given you one face, and you make yourself another.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We are responsible for the persona we project to the world, as opposed to our true selves.
This quote from Shakespeare suggests that while God creates our physical appearance, it is our choices and actions that shape our identity and how we are perceived by others. It emphasizes the idea that individuals often wear masks or create facades to fit into societal expectations or to hide their true selves, which reflects on the nature of authenticity and self-perception.
Themes
IdentityAuthenticitySelf-PerceptionFacadeMask
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about societal pressure, this quote can illustrate how people often feel the need to conform.
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