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
Modest doubt is called the beacon of the wise.
Interpretation
Having a small amount of doubt can help guide wise decisions.
This quote suggests that a reasonable level of doubt can serve as a guiding light for those who are wise. It implies that questioning and being open to uncertainty are crucial for deeper understanding and better decision-making, as wisdom often comes from considering multiple perspectives and recognizing the limitations of one's knowledge.
In practice
In a classroom discussion about critical thinking, this quote can emphasize the importance of doubt in learning.
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).
Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
You proceed from a false assumption: I have no ego to bruise.
Where we have strong emotions, we're liable to fool ourselves.
The great man is he who does not lose his child's-heart.
A wish is a desire without energy
The way that helps will not be the same; it changes according to the situation.
Don't expect smart people to listen to you without proof.
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