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
When workmen strive to do better than well, they do confound their skill in covetousness.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Striving for perfection can lead to greed and distraction from true skill.
This quote by William Shakespeare suggests that when workers aim to achieve more than simply 'well' in their endeavors, they may become blinded by their desire for more, ultimately misplacing their skills and intentions. It reflects the idea that excessive ambition can distort one's focus and capabilities, leading to complications driven by greed rather than excellence.
Themes
SkillGreedAmbitionWorkExcellence
In practice
Example use cases
In a motivational speech about pursuing craftsmanship over material gain.
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