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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What should we think of someone who never admits error, never entertains doubt but adheres unflinchingly to the same ideas all his life, regardless of new evidence? Doubt and skepticism are signs of rationality. When we are too certain of our opinions, we run the risk of ignoring any evidence that conflicts with our views. It is doubt that shows we are still thinking, still willing to reexamine hardened beliefs when confronted with new facts and new evidence.
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My mind, I know, I can prove, hovers on hummingbird wings. It hovers and it churns. And when it's operating at full thrust, the churning does not stop. The machines do not rest, the systems rarely cool. And while I can forget anything of any importance--this is why people tell me secrets--my mind has an uncanny knack for organization when it comes to pain. Nothing tormenting is ever lost, never even diminished in color or intensity or quality of sound.
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There is no limit to the ingenuity of man if it is properly and vigorously applied under conditions of peace and justice.
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We become what we think about most of the time, and that's the strangest secret.
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