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 little of the melancholy element in her, my lord: she is never sad but when she sleeps; and not ever sad then; for I have heard my daughter say, she hath often dreamt of unhappiness, and waked herself with laughing.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that the woman's happiness is genuine and persistent, only fleetingly touched by sorrow in her dreams.
This quote reflects on the nature of the womanβs character, portraying her as someone who rarely experiences sadness, even in her dreams. It emphasizes the idea that her innate joy is so profound that any hint of melancholy during her sleep does not linger upon waking, as she has the ability to turn sorrow into laughter, showcasing a resilient spirit and an optimistic outlook on life.
Themes
HappinessDreamsLaughterOptimismResilience
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about the power of positivity.
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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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