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
There is an old poor man,. . . . Oppress'd with two weak evils, age and hunger.
Interpretation
This quote reflects the struggles of an elderly man facing the dual challenges of aging and poverty.
In this quote, Shakespeare poignantly captures the plight of a vulnerable old man who is burdened by the ravages of age and the desperation of hunger. It highlights the intersection of physical decline and socioeconomic hardship, underscoring a deep sense of empathy for those who suffer in silence due to these unrelenting forces.
In practice
In a speech about social justice, this quote can highlight the challenges faced by the elderly.
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.
What right had they to make me suffer like that?
I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle and end.
Ships at a distance have every man's wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the same horizon, never out of sight, never landing until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men. Now, women forget all those things they don't want to remember, and remember everything they don't want to forget. The dream is the truth. Then they act and do things accordingly.
Life is a play that does not allow testing. So, sing, cry, dance, laugh and live intensely, before the curtain closes and the piece ends with no applause.
With confidence, he open the door of life presented to him.
Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.
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