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
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Neglect and negative actions lead to greater problems than what may seem benign.
This quote by Shakespeare highlights the idea that untreated issues or negative behaviors can worsen over time, producing even more unpleasant consequences than the initial problems themselves. It serves as a reminder that it is essential to address issues head-on rather than allowing them to fester and grow into greater challenges.
Themes
NeglectProblemsConsequencesWisdomAction
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about addressing personal challenges.
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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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