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
Therefore another prologue must tell he is not a lion
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that one should not assume power or strength based on appearances or reputation alone.
In this quote, Shakespeare implies that the true nature of a character is often hidden behind superficial qualities, and that one must be cautious in attributing qualities such as strength or authority to someone solely based on their appearance or title. It reflects the idea that identity can be complex and multifaceted, urging us to look beyond the surface to understand someone's true self.
Themes
AppearanceDeceptionIdentityTruthNature
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a discussion on leadership qualities.
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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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