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
To this urn let those repair_x000D_ _x000D_ That are either true or fair;_x000D_ _x000D_ For these dead birds sigh a prayer.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote reflects on the importance of truth and beauty in life, suggesting reverence for those attributes.
In this quote, Shakespeare invites people to pay their respects to an urn, symbolizing the memory of the deceased. He emphasizes that only those who value truth or beauty—qualities that transcend life—should approach it, as the urn contains the memory of 'dead birds,' representing lost potential or beauty, prompting a reflective prayer for their souls.
Themes
TruthBeautyMemoryReflectionRespect
In practice
Example use cases
During a memorial service, one might use this quote to emphasize the importance of honoring the deceased with truth and beauty.
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