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
ROMEO There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls, Doing more murders in this loathsome world, Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell. I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none. Farewell: buy food, and get thyself in flesh. Come, cordial and not poison, go with me To Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee.
Interpretation
This quote highlights the destructive nature of greed and the moral dilemmas tied to human desires.
In this excerpt from Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', Romeo reflects on the corrupting power of greed, suggesting that the gold he offers is more poisonous to people's souls than the literal poison he seeks. It speaks to the idea that wealth and material desires can lead to moral decay and violence, suggesting that the true danger lies not in the objects people sell, but in the intentions and consequences behind those desires.
In practice
In a discussion about the dangers of materialism, one might quote this to emphasize the moral consequences of greed.
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.
Curiosity creeps into the houses of the unfortunate and the needy under the name of duty or of pity.
The Book of Life begins with a man and a woman in a garden. It ends with Revelations.
Daily, I examine myself in three areas. Have I done my best when doing things for others? Have I been trustworthy in my dealings with my friends? Have I revised the lessons I have been taught?
Je puis nier une chose sans me croire obligé de la salir ou de retirer aux autres le droit d'y croire.
Every nation has the right to demand proper treatment and no country should violate the territory of any other country.
Neither a life of anarchy nor a life under a despot should you praise. To all that lies in the middle has a god given excellence.
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