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
If he be so resolved, I can o'ersway him; for he loves to hear That unicorns may be betrayed with trees And bears with glasses, elephants with holes, Lions with toils, and men with flatterers
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects on human nature and the power of persuasion, suggesting that anyone can be deceived or influenced under certain circumstances.
In this quote, Shakespeare highlights the idea that even the strongest or most resolute individuals have vulnerabilities that can be exploited. The imagery of animals being betrayed by elements in their environment serves as a metaphor for how people can be misled by flattery or charm, revealing the complexities of trust and manipulation in human relationships.
Themes
PersuasionDeceptionHuman NatureFlatteryTrust
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about trust in leadership, this quote could emphasize the risks of flattery.
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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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