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
But to my mind, though I am native here, And to the manner born, it is a custom, More honored in the breach than the observance.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Traditions may be followed more in spirit than in strict adherence.
This quote by William Shakespeare suggests that while customs and traditions can be an integral part of one's culture, they are often more respected when they are broken or challenged rather than followed blindly. It encourages a critical approach to social norms, implying that true understanding and authenticity come from questioning and adapting customs rather than merely observing them.
Themes
TraditionCustomsNormsBreachObservance
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about innovation, one might say, 'As Shakespeare noted, sometimes tradition is more honored in the breach than in the observance.'
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes βLove bears it out even to the edge of doom.
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Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
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Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
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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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