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
Society is no comfort, to one not sociable.
Interpretation
Isolation from society is difficult for those who do not engage socially.
This quote reflects the idea that society can be a source of comfort and support for individuals, especially those who are sociable. In contrast, for someone who is not inclined to socialize, the presence of society can feel overwhelming and unwelcoming, leading to feelings of loneliness and discomfort. Shakespeare highlights the importance of social connections and how one's personality influences their experiences within society.
In practice
In a speech about mental health, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of social interactions for well-being.
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.
I did not look for her, because I was afraid of dispelling the mystery we attach to people whom we know only casually.
It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you to the heart: the one to slander you and the other to get the news to you.
Once we begin to question our thoughts, our partners-alive, dead or divorced-are always our greatest teachers. There's no mistake about the person you're with; he or she is the perfect teacher for you, whether or not the relationship works out, and once you enter inquiry, you come to see that clearly.
Communities of color don't understand what it means to be a police officer, the fear that police officers have in just being on the streets.
We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.
We're [parents]) always bluffing, pretending we know best, when most of the time we're just praying we won't screw up too badly.
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