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
Is he on his horse? O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the nobility and burden of leadership, exemplified through the literary image of a horse carrying Antony.
In this quote, Shakespeare uses the metaphor of a horse bearing the weight of Antony to express the significant responsibilities and burdens often shouldered by leaders. The imagery implies a sense of admiration for the horse, suggesting that it plays a vital role in supporting a great figure, much like how those in leadership positions rely on their support systems to carry the weight of their duties and decisions.
Themes
LeadershipResponsibilityBurdenSupportNobility
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about leadership, one might quote this to highlight the sacrifices leaders make.
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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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