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
O polished perturbation! golden care! That keep'st the ports of slumber open wide To many a watchful night.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the anxiety and worry that disrupt sleep and peace of mind.
In this poetic expression by Shakespeare, the speaker personifies the feelings of anxiety and care as 'polished perturbation' and 'golden care'. These emotions are depicted as forces that keep the doors of restful sleep ajar, allowing worries to invade and disturb many a sleepless night. The imagery captures the struggle between seeking tranquility and being burdened by nagging thoughts.
Themes
AnxietyCareSleepWorryPeace
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about mental health awareness, one could use this quote to highlight the impact of anxiety on sleep.
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