“It is the bright day that brings forth the adder;
And that craves wary walking.” (JC.2.1)
Tips for Use. Advocate prudence in the midst of excessive optimism. In the book “Your Daily Shakespeare” see also ‘Scoundrels, s. around – … there are cozeners abroad; therefore it behooves men to be wary.’
In the play. Brutus meditates on the forthcoming crowning of Caesar as king.
“I can get no remedy against this consumption of the purse; borrowing only lingers and lingers it out, but the disease is incurable.” (KHIV.p2.1.2)
Tip for Use. Often employers temporize on giving you a raise and wait when you will gather enough gumption to broach the subject. Even so, they may ask you why do you need a raise in an effort to dampen your spirits or humiliate you. Isn’t it obvious why anyone needs a raise? You could answer as he/she expects, e.g. mounting bills, long time before the last raise etc. But this would be falling into the verbal trap he has laid for you. Remember this quote instead and if your counterpart cannot laugh or at least smile at your answer, then you have a problem and maybe you could start looking for another job. The character totally lacks a sense of humor, an unfortunate occurrence in many corporations.
In the book “Your Daily Shakespeare” you will find many quotes dealing with office or work situations.
… In a different situation use the first part of the quotation, ‘I can get no remedy from this consumption of the purse’ when, for example, you find yourself temporarily out of cash for whatever reason and must ask your date to pay, with the idea of refunding her later for the borrowed amount. She may interpret your line as a witty explanation of why you have to ask her for the small loan required for the immediate necessity to pay a bill.
Should you have a female boss and you notice that she likes you (in “Your Daily Shakespeare” see ‘Body, b. language’), use the sentence in its entirety when the subject is your salary, a prospective raise or similar, as explained in the first part of the sentence.
Continuing with extracting from “Your Daily Shakespeare”.
Sometimes the stark reality of economics contrasts with the tender airiness of love. In 1697 John Hervey, First Earl of Bristol, fondly writes to his wife Elizabeth from Newmarket, ‘My ever-new delight, Knowing how kind a welcome all my scribbles meet with where they are addressed, neither heart nor hand can forbear, when any opportunity offers, to tell thee how much I long to be in the place of this my harbinger…for all time is worse than lost that’s spent where thou art not… ‘Tis you alone that sweetens life, and makes one wish the wings of time were clipt…’
But Elizabeth, in writing back from Bury, while acknowledging her love for her husband has pressing financial matters to deal with.
‘My dear dear love, Ye hundred things I had to say when you left me, must be only to repeat how much and dearly I love you….
Though I could dwell for ever on this subject (i.e. love), yet I am sure you would be angry with me if I did not tell ye wants those bills you left me to pay has put me in more distress then I thought possible; but 20 pounds will effectually do my bisness, (spelling original) which sum, if it is not easy for you to send, a note from Mr. Cook to receive it at London will do as well; for he can let me have that or any other sum I want; but I shall need no more.’
By the way the spelling is original — See also ‘Budget deficit – coffers sound with hollow poverty and emptiness’.
In the play. Falstaff’s bleak assessment of his own finances.
Do you wish to remember this quote by heart? See mnemonic #2 in the Mnemonic Frames Page.
“For you and I are past our dancing days” (Romeo and Juliet.1.5)
Tip for Use. When you wish to refuse an invitation to wild entertainment, e.g. ‘I am past my dancing days’. In “Your Daily Shakespeare” see also ‘Error, e. admitted and due to youthful inexperience – Those were my salad days when I was green in judgement’.
In the play. Capulet invites his cousin to sit down as dancing would be inappropriate for both of them given their age.
“… I stand as one upon a rock,
Environ’d with a wilderness of sea,
Who marks the waxing tide grow wave by wave,
Expecting ever when some envious surge
Will in his brinish bowel swallow him.” (Titus Andronicus 3.1)
Tip for use. Forcefully express that you are surrounded by enemies, ‘I stand upon……sea.’ – or that you are in a precarious political position. One of the many answers to “How are you?” that you will find in “Your Daily Shakespeare” and suite to the particular state or circumstances you are in. In the topic instance, you don’t know what to do as every option seems wrong or hopeless.
I have developed a DVD enabling the viewer to easily memorize this and another 400 Shakespearean quotations. I will gladly send you the mnemonic frame for this quote if you email your request.
In the play. Titus A. is pained to the point of madness after seeing the status his daughter Lavinia is in. Lavinia has been ravished, killed and mutilated by Titus’ envious enemies at the court of Rome.
“…We a
re such stuff
As dreams are made on, and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.” (TEM.4.1)
Tip for Use. Express a feeling of unreality and of the fleetingness of life.
In the play. Prospero utters a philosophical consideration for Miranda and Ferdinand’s benefit. Prospero is getting ready to fire the spirits and goblins that have helped him demonstrate to his power-hungry brother how evil were his actions. The brother repents.
IAGO. Will you hear me Roderigo?
RODERIGO. Faith, I have heard too much; for your words and performance are no kin together.” (OTH.4.3)
Tips for Use. Extract, ‘Your words and performance are no kin together.’ Good for a politician fighting the incumbent or for a performance review of an employee who talks big but acts small.
In the play. Roderigo complains with Iago that, notwithstanding Iago’s promises, Desdemona is farther away than ever.
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” (Hamlet 1.5)
Tips for Use. Evasive answer to questions of the type, ‘Why this?’ or ‘Why did you do this?’ when you do not want to give a reason. Change ‘Horatio’ to name of party you are talking to. In “Your Daily Shakespeare” see also ‘Philosophy, there is a reason for everything’.
In the play. Hamlet, returning from the conversation with the Ghost, hints (to Horatio) at the reality of metaphysical phenomena.
“Tho
u speakest wiser than thou art ‘ware of.” (AYLI.2.4)
Tips for use. When you want to agree with someone with whom you normally don’t.
In the play. Rosalind shows regard for a comment by Touchstone.
“O, how f
ull of briers is this working-day world!” (AYLI.1.3)
Tips for Use. Comment on the difficulties of every day life. In the “Your Daily Shakespeare” book you also find cross-references to ‘Life, a combination of good and bad – The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill go together..’ *** ‘Pessimism, p. to the point that death is tolerable – The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch, which hurts, and is desired.’ *** ‘Pessimism, world will not feel my loss – … I shall do my friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me… *** Entries for ‘World, pessimistic view of the w.’
In the play. Rosalind sees difficulties in the development of her relationship with Orlando.
“The w
eb of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill go together: our virtues would be proud, if our
faults whipped them not, and our crimes would despair, if they were not cherished by our virtues” (AWEW.3.3)
Tip for use. Add a philosophical explanation to the alternation of pleasant and unpleasant events in life.
In the play. Two French Lords comment on the virtues and faults of Bertram, the French count who has deserted his wife. The mingled yarn here referred to is the valor Bertram has displayed in battle at Florence (the good) and the shame he has incurred by his behavior towards Helen (the ill) – behavior that has cost him the (alleged) death of his wife and the displeasure of the King.