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
A little more than kin, and less than kind.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the complexity of familial relationships, suggesting that while family may share blood ties, it doesn't always imply kindness or affection.
In this quote from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', the speaker is commenting on the strained relationship with his uncle, who is both a relative and an antagonist. The phrase implies a tension where the bond of kinship is overshadowed by a lack of genuine kindness, highlighting the nuanced and often problematic nature of familial connections.
Themes
KinshipFamilyRelationshipsKindnessStruggle
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the complexities of family dynamics.
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