QuoteProject
That's a valiant flea that dares eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.
William Shakespeare
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote emphasizes the courage required to face seemingly insurmountable challenges.

In this quote, Shakespeare uses the imagery of a flea, a small creature, daring to eat while perched on the lip of a lion, a powerful and fearsome animal. This highlights the audacity and bravery it takes to confront situations that may appear overwhelmingly daunting or dangerous, suggesting that sometimes courage can be found in unexpected places or individuals.

Themes

CourageBraveryChallengesFearAudacity

In practice

Example use cases

In a motivational speech about overcoming fears and taking risks.

More from William Shakespeare

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
Love 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

Come to the edge.' 'We can't. We're afraid.' 'Come to the edge.' 'We can't. We will fall!' 'Come to the edge.' And they came. And he pushed them. And they flew.
Guillaume ApollinaireRead
There is a great stir about colored men getting their rights, but not a word about the colored women; and if colored men get their rights, and not colored women theirs, you see, the colored men will be masters over the women, and it will be just as bad as it was before.
Sojourner TruthRead
It is better to die than to preserve this life by incurring disgrace. The loss of life causes but a moment's grief, but disgrace brings grief every day of one's life.
ChanakyaRead
We faced it and did not resist. The storm passed through us and around us. It's gone, but we remain.
Frank HerbertRead
Difficulties are made to be overcome ~ Miss Felicity Lemon, Agatha Christie's Poirot: The Plymouth Express
Agatha ChristieRead
The only thing I can't do is hear. I can drive, I have a life with four kids, I work on TV, I do movies, so the deafness question, is it that they want to know because, what? Not sure.
Marlee MatlinRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.

Quote by William Shakespeare | QuoteProject