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
Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtues we write in water.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People tend to remember negative actions more than positive ones, which are often easily forgotten.
This quote by William Shakespeare reflects on the tendency of society to memorialize the negative aspects of humanity while neglecting the good. It suggests that our vices and wrongdoings are solidified in memory, akin to being etched in brass, while our virtues and positive actions are fleeting and easily washed away, like writing in water. This highlights a profound human experience where negativity and flaws seem to dominate our collective memory and perception.
Themes
Human NatureVirtueViceMemoryShakespeare
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about morality, this quote can illustrate how people often focus on negativity.
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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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