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
We make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars; as if we were villians by compulsion.
Interpretation
What this quote means
We often blame external forces for our misfortunes instead of taking responsibility for our actions.
In this quote, Shakespeare reflects on the human tendency to assign blame to celestial bodies for our failures and disasters. It suggests that rather than acknowledging our own roles in the challenges we face, we may be inclined to see ourselves as victims of fate, which absolves us of responsibility and hinders personal growth.
Themes
BlameResponsibilityFateSelf-ReflectionDisasters
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about personal responsibility, this quote can be used to inspire others to take charge of their own lives.
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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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