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
Let men say we be men of good government, being governed, as the sea is, by our noble and chaste mistress the moon, under whose countenance we steal.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on the influence of external forces on human governance and behavior.
In this quote, Shakespeare uses the metaphor of the moon to illustrate how human affairs and governance can be swayed by higher powers or inherent natural forces. Just as the moon governs the tides of the sea, individuals may find themselves governed by ideals or influences that shape their actions and values, highlighting a sense of reliance on these external forces rather than purely personal agency.
Themes
GovernanceInfluenceNatureBehaviorPower
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on the role of leadership, one might quote this to emphasize the influence of ideals.
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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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