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 find my zenith doth depend upon A most auspicious star, whose influence If now I court not, but omit, my fortunes Will ever after droop.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success relies on recognizing and seizing the right opportunities.
In this quote from Shakespeare, the speaker reflects on the idea that their highest achievements ('zenith') are contingent upon favorable circumstances or influences ('auspicious star'). If these opportunities are neglected or overlooked, it is likely that their fortunes will decline over time. The message underscores the importance of being aware of and acting upon the moments that can lead to success.
Themes
SuccessOpportunityFortuneWisdomRecognition
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used during a motivational speech to emphasize the importance of seizing opportunities.
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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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