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
If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well. It were done quickly.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the nature of actions and their timing, suggesting that if an action must be taken, it should be done swiftly.
In this quote from Macbeth, Shakespeare contemplates the moral implications and the urgency of action. The speaker implies that if an act is inevitable, it is better to execute it promptly and decisively rather than prolonging uncertainty or hesitation. This reflects deep themes of ambition, morality, and the internal conflict faced when making difficult decisions.
Themes
ActionUrgencyDecisivenessAmbitionMorality
In practice
Example use cases
A leader could use this quote to encourage a team to take action in a time-sensitive project.
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