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 is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls, Doing more murder in this loathsome world, Than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote critiques the corrupting influence of money and greed on humanity.
In this line from Shakespeare, the author contrasts the perceived value of gold and wealth with the moral decay they can cause in individuals. It suggests that the pursuit of wealth can lead to more harm than any physical poison, as it corrupts souls and leads to destructive behavior, making us question the true cost of our desires and ambitions.
Themes
GoldGreedMoneyCorruptionHumanity
In practice
Example use cases
During a speech on ethics in business, one could use this quote to illustrate the dangers of prioritizing profit over moral values.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes βLove bears it out even to the edge of doom.
William ShakespeareRead
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
William ShakespeareRead
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
William ShakespeareRead
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
William ShakespeareRead
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
William ShakespeareRead
Similar quotes
Meaning equals emotion and emotion equals life. Choose consciously and wisely.
Tony RobbinsRead
Definitions, contrary to popular opinion, tell us nothing about things. They only describe people's linguistic habits; that is, they tell us what noises people make under what conditions.
S. I. HayakawaRead
I don't believe that if you do good, good things will happen. Everything is completely accidental and random. Sometimes bad things happen to very good people and sometimes good things happen to bad people. But at least if you try to do good things, then you're spending your time doing something worthwhile.
Helen MirrenRead
Sustainability is a seemingly laudable goal - it tells us we need to live within our means, whether economic, ecological, or political - but it's insufficient for uncertain times. How can we live within our means when those very means can change, swiftly and unexpectedly, beneath us?
Jamais CascioRead
I believe in an India of pluralism and diversity, not of religious bigotry and caste politics. I believe in an India that is secure in itself and confident of its place in the world, an India that is a proud example of tolerance, freedom and hope for the downtrodden.
Shashi TharoorRead
I do not quote from the scriptures;_x000D_ I simply see what I see.
KabirRead