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
That which in mean men we entitle patience is pale cold cowardice in noble breasts.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True patience is a virtue of the noble, whereas in lesser individuals, it may be a mask for cowardice.
In this quote, Shakespeare contrasts the concept of patience as perceived by those of lower character with the true strength it represents in noble individuals. He suggests that what some may view as patience in mean-spirited people is often nothing more than cowardice, while for those with noble hearts, patience is a testament to their strength and self-control.
Themes
PatienceCowardiceNobilityStrengthCharacter
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about overcoming challenges, one might reference this quote to emphasize the true nature of patience.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes βLove bears it out even to the edge of doom.
William ShakespeareRead
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
William ShakespeareRead
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
William ShakespeareRead
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
William ShakespeareRead
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
William ShakespeareRead
Similar quotes
I wish grace and healing were more abracadabra kind of things. Also, that delicate silver bells would ring to announce grace's arrival. But no, it's clog and slog and scootch, on the floor, in the silence, in the dark.
Anne LamottRead
A boy told me if he roller-skated fast enough his loneliness couldn't catch up to him, the best reason I ever heard for trying to be a champion. What I wonder tonight pedaling hard down King William Street is if it translates to bicycles. A victory! To leave your loneliness panting behind you on some street corner while you float free into a cloud of sudden azaleas, pink petals that have never felt loneliness, no matter how slowly they fell.
Naomi Shihab NyeRead
I had always been impressed by the fact that there are surprisingly many individuals who never use their minds if they can avoid it, and yet are not stupid, and an equal number who obviously do use their minds but in an amazingly stupid way.
Carl JungRead
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.
SolomonRead
I am not sure that it is of the first importance that you should be happy. Many an unhappy man has been of deep service to himself and to the world.
Woodrow WilsonRead
(Whispered to a novice while standing in front of the convent library) Oh! I would have been sorry to have read all those books...If I had read them, I would have broken my head, and I would have wasted precious time that I could have employed very simply in loving God.
Therese Of LisieuxRead