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
It is the stars, The stars above us, govern our conditions.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our circumstances are influenced by larger forces beyond our control.
In this quote, Shakespeare reflects on the idea that human life and its conditions are not solely determined by our actions, but are also shaped by external influences, represented metaphorically by the stars. This perspective encourages a contemplation of fate, destiny, and the role of higher powers in our lives, suggesting that some aspects of our existence are predetermined or governed by forces beyond our understanding.
Themes
StarsGovernConditionsFateDestinyInfluence
In practice
Example use cases
When talking about the unpredictability of life in a graduation speech.
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Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
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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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