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
As he was valiant, I honour him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Honoring someone's bravery while acknowledging that their ambition led to their downfall.
This quote reflects the complex nature of human qualities, particularly bravery and ambition. It emphasizes the idea that while we may respect and honor those who exhibit courage, we must also be wary of ambition, which can lead to destructive actions and consequences. Shakespeare presents a nuanced view of character, illustrating how the virtues and vices of individuals can coexist and ultimately influence their fate.
Themes
HonorAmbitionValiantSlayCharacter
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the duality of human nature in literature.
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
The truly holy person welcomes all that is earthly.
Hildegard Of BingenRead
When you kill a man, you steal a life. You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father. When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness.
Khaled HosseiniRead
Its a bit mad. Too bad, I mean, that getting to know each just for a fleeting second Must be replaced by unperfect knowledge of the featureless whole Like some pocket history of the world, so general As to constitute a sob or wail
John AshberyRead
Philosophy is the highest music.
PlatoRead
Defense is superior to opulence.
Adam SmithRead
So always, if we look back, concern for face-to-face morality, and its modern emphasis on justice as well, have historically evolved as religious issues.
Huston SmithRead