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
A rarer spirit never Did steer humanity; but you gods will give us Some faults to make us men.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the duality of human nature, suggesting that imperfections are essential to our humanity.
In this quote, Shakespeare explores the complex nature of being human, implying that while some individuals possess extraordinary qualities or 'rarer spirits,' these traits alone do not fully define humanity. The notion that gods provide faults for humans reinforces the idea that imperfections and challenges are integral to the human experience, shaping our identity and behavior.
Themes
HumanityImperfectionNatureHuman SpiritGods
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about accepting flaws in ourselves and others, one might say, 'As Shakespeare reminds us, 'A rarer spirit never did steer humanity;' we need to embrace our imperfections to grow.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes βLove bears it out even to the edge of doom.
William ShakespeareRead
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
William ShakespeareRead
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
William ShakespeareRead
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
William ShakespeareRead
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
William ShakespeareRead
Similar quotes
Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider.
Martin Luther King, Jr.Read
Although its light is wide and great, the Moon is reflected in a puddle one inch wide. The whole Moon and the entire sky is reflected in one dew drop on the grass.
DogenRead
I like some animals more than some people, some people more than some animals.
Jane GoodallRead
Let's worship Divinity, but understand the divinity we worship is beyond our comprehension.
John TempletonRead
Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle.
Black ElkRead
I think windows are really important for the psychological health of crew members on long duration missions. It is nice to look outside, even if it is dark.
Sunita WilliamsRead