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
I must be cruel only to be kind; Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Sometimes, showing tough love or being harsh can ultimately lead to positive outcomes.
This quote by Shakespeare suggests that in certain situations, being unkind or harsh is necessary for the greater good. It emphasizes that while immediate actions may seem cruel, they can be motivated by a desire to help others in the long run, and it's essential to understand that some 'bad' actions might be the precursor to improvement or healing.
Themes
Tough LoveKindnessHarshnessTruthGrowth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a discussion about parenting techniques.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes →Love 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!
William ShakespeareRead
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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