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, pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, / That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker reflects on their humility and gentleness in the face of overwhelming violence and brutality.
In this quote, the speaker expresses deep regret and sorrow over their passive demeanor among those who commit acts of violence. It highlights a conflict between personal moral values and the harshness of the surrounding reality, illustrating the struggle of maintaining compassion in a brutal world.
Themes
HumilityViolenceCompassionRegretGentleness
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about non-violence and pacifism.
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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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