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
What the great ones do, the less will prattle of
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that the actions of great individuals often overshadow the empty talk of those who aren't as accomplished.
In this quote, Shakespeare emphasizes the distinction between meaningful action and superficial chatter. He suggests that true greatness is demonstrated through actions that inspire and lead, while those who merely talk without substance will remain ignored or forgotten. It highlights the importance of deeds over empty words, asserting that true greatness is recognized more through what is done than by what is said.
Themes
GreatnessActionWordsDeedsLeadership
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about leadership: 'Remember, what the great ones do, the less will prattle of.'
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