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 man may see how this world goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond justice rails upon yon simple thief. Hark, in thine ear: change places; and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which is the thief?
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that understanding justice and morality is not just about what we see but also about what we hear and perceive.
In this quote, Shakespeare highlights the often ambiguous nature of justice and wrongdoing, urging us to reconsider our judgments based on superficial observations. By using imagery of seeing with ears rather than eyes, he invites us to listen more closely to the circumstances and motivations behind each person's actions, thereby emphasizing the complexity of human nature and moral discernment.
Themes
JusticeThiefPerceptionMoralityUnderstanding
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate about social justice, this quote can be used to illustrate the complexities of moral judgment.
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