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
There's such divinity doth hedge a king _x000D_ That treason can but peep to what it would.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the protection and sanctity surrounding a king's authority, suggesting that treachery can only approach but never fully succeed.
William Shakespeare's quote emphasizes the idea that a king holds a divine right, and thus, any act of treason is ultimately thwarted by the natural order that protects their sovereignty. It suggests that while betrayal may linger close, it will never fully manifest because of the inherent power and respect afforded to a ruler.
Themes
DivinityKingTreasonPowerSovereignty
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion on leadership, one might say, 'As Shakespeare noted, 'There's such divinity doth hedge a king,' to highlight the protective nature of power.
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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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