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
I would give all of my fame for a pot of ale and safety.
Interpretation
Prioritizing personal safety and simple pleasures over fame and recognition.
In this quote, Shakespeare emphasizes the value of safety and basic needs over the superficial allure of fame. It highlights the idea that true contentment comes from feeling secure and having simple pleasures like a 'pot of ale,' rather than pursuing worldly accolades that can often lead to stress and anxiety.
In practice
During a speech on valuing personal well-being over career advancement.
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).
Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
It takes a noble man to plant a seed for a tree that will someday give shade to people he may never meet.
Traveling makes men wiser, but less happy.
Through indiscriminate suffering men know fear, and fear is the most divine emotion. It is the stones for altars and the beginning of wisdom.
To do nothing is sometimes a good remedy.
Put a bridle on thy tongue; set a guard before thy lips, lest the words of thine own mouth destroy thy peace... on much speaking cometh repentance, but in silence is safety.
You're so caught up in grumbling, complaining, and seeing what's wrong that you have no energy or time to appreciate what's good.
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