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
Oh, that way madness lies; let me shun that.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote warns against paths that lead to chaos or insanity, suggesting it is better to avoid them.
In this quote, Shakespeare reflects on the dangers of pursuing thoughts or actions that lead to madness and chaos. It serves as a reminder to recognize and avoid those influences or ideas that may lead one astray, ultimately advocating for self-awareness and caution in decision-making.
Themes
MadnessWisdomCautionDecision-MakingInsanity
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about mental health, one might quote this to emphasize the importance of avoiding harmful thoughts.
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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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