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
This royal throne of kings, this scepter'd isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-Paradise.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote celebrates the grandeur and beauty of England, comparing it to a paradise.
In this quote, Shakespeare portrays England as a majestic realm worthy of kingship and nobility. By using imagery of a 'throne' and 'scepter', he elevates the status of the land, while referring to it as a 'demi-Paradise' suggests that it possesses a unique beauty and transcendent quality, making it a special place in the world.
Themes
EnglandMajestyParadiseBeautyKingdom
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about national pride during a cultural event.
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