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
The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together: our virtues would be proud if our faults whipped them not; and our crimes would despair if they were not cherished by our own virtues.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Life is a complex intertwining of good and bad, where our virtues and faults influence each other.
In this quote, Shakespeare suggests that life is inherently complicated, woven together with both good and bad experiences. Our virtues can be seen as strong only when they are contrasted against our faults, while our flaws might strive for redemption through the positive traits we possess. This interplay highlights the human condition, where our strengths and weaknesses coexist and shape our identity.
Themes
LifeVirtuesFaultsBalanceHuman Condition
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about resilience, one could reference this quote to illustrate the importance of embracing both strengths and weaknesses.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes →Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
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Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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