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
If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Revenge can be a powerful motivator, even if it offers no other benefits.
This quote from Shakespeare reflects the deep emotional drive that revenge can instill in an individual. It suggests that the desire for vengeance can sustain a person, even when there are no positive outcomes associated with it. The intensity of this feeling overshadows other aspects of life, highlighting how powerful human emotions can shape motivations and actions.
Themes
RevengeMotivationEmotionHuman Nature
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on the consequences of actions, one might invoke this quote to illustrate the darker side of human desires.
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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