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
Jesters do oft prove prophets.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that humor and jest can reveal deeper truths about life and society.
William Shakespeare's quote 'Jesters do oft prove prophets' implies that those who make us laugh—jesters, clowns, or comedians—hold a unique position in society. Through their humor and satire, they often highlight truths and realities that others might overlook or avoid discussing, serving as a mirror to the world around us and offering insights into human nature and societal issues. In this way, jesters can be seen as modern-day prophets, revealing wisdom through the medium of entertainment.
Themes
JestersTruthHumorWisdomSociety
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech at a comedy festival, one might quote Shakespeare to emphasize the power of humor in revealing truths.
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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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