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
He thinks too much. Such men are dangerous.
Interpretation
Overthinking can lead to dangerous consequences, especially for those who wield power.
This quote by Shakespeare highlights the dangers associated with overly analytical individuals, particularly those in positions of authority. It suggests that excessive contemplation and doubt can lead to poor decision-making and may ultimately threaten the status quo or the safety of others.
In practice
In a debate about leadership qualities, one might use this quote to highlight the risks of overthinking.
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.
Allow God to be as creative with you as He is with each of us.
Put least trust in him who is foremost to praise you, nor judge of a road till it draw to the end.
Say the truth even if it may be bitter.
The revealed Word awakened me, but it was the preached Word that saved me, and I must ever attach peculiar value to the hearing of the truth, for by it I received the joy and peace in which my soul delights.
In one world, effort is a bad thing. It, like failure, means you're not smart or talented. If you were, you wouldn't need effort. In the other world, effort is what makes you smart or talented.
Sir, you must not neglect doing a thing immediately good from fear of remote evil; - from fear of its being abused.
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