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
Not from the stars do I my judgement pluck, And yet methinks I have astronomy. But not to tell of good or evil luck, Of plagues, of dearths, or season's quality; Nor can I fortune to brief minutes tell ... Or say with princes if it shall go well.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker reflects on the limits of knowledge and understanding, suggesting that true wisdom comes from experience rather than astrology.
In this quote, Shakespeare explores the idea that while one might seek guidance from the stars and celestial bodies, real judgement and knowledge are grounded in practical experience and observation of the world. The speaker expresses skepticism about using astrology to predict outcomes or assess situations, highlighting the importance of direct experience over reliance on superstition.
Themes
WisdomExperienceKnowledgeJudgementPhilosophyFate
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about decision-making, one might quote Shakespeare to emphasize the value of real-life experience over speculation.
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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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