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
What this quote means
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.
Themes
DoubtWisdomGuidanceUnderstandingDecision-Making
In practice
Example use cases
In a classroom discussion about critical thinking, this quote can emphasize the importance of doubt in learning.
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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Men lose their tempers in defending their taste.
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Mahatma GandhiRead
When you resolve to become pious, the devil in your nature cries out at you, "Tread not those paths, O confused one; distress and poverty will overcome you. You will be despised, let down by friends, you will regret it." Dread of the devil has bound their souls; the cries of the devil are the drover of the damned; the call of the Lord is a guardian of the saints.
RumiRead
Half an hour's meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.
Saint Francis De SalesRead
The magic, the wonder, the mystery and the innocence of a childs heart are the seeds of creativity that will heal the world. I really believe that. What we need to learn from children isnt childish. Being with them connects us to the deeper wisdom of life, which is everpresent and only asks to be lived. They know the way to solutions that lie waiting to be recognized within our own hearts.
Michael JacksonRead
What I've noticed is that almost no one who was a big star in high school is also big star later in life. For us overlooked kids, it's so wonderfully fair.
Mindy KalingRead