Seven Ages of Man, take 1, the infant

Posted on April 9, 2012 by jimmie

Shakespeare As You Like it, first the infant“… At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms…” (As You Like It, act 2, sc. 7)

In this and some following posts we will review, one by one, the seven ages of man. Today it’s the first, the infant. The complete sequence is recorded at the end of this post. The related general introduction “All the World is a Stage” was dealt with in the post of February 29, 2012.

Tips for Use.  When an adversary displays a stupid and infantile behavior. E.G. “Come on, stop mewling and puking in the nurse’s arm.” Continue reading →

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Shakespeare and the Art of Negotiation, King Richard III

Posted on April 8, 2012 by jimmie

A stone as an elelemt of comparison“… I am not made of stone,
But penetrable to your kind entreaties…” (King Richard III, act 3, sc. 7)

Tips for Use.  When you are almost ready to yield on a request that, perhaps, you previously denied. Still, you intend to draw out the matter a bit longer for a number of reasons, timing, political, tactical or all of the above… Continue reading →

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Shakespeare’s Roses as the Best Flower

Posted on April 7, 2012 by jimmie

rose inscribed into a medieval circle“Of all Flowres, methinks a Rose is best” (The Two Noble Kinsmen, act 2, sc. 2)

Tips for Use.  Use as a compliment – the suggestion, by the way, does not proceed from the blog writer, but rather from an 18th manual of romantic behavior found in a library. That is, substitute the name of the lady whom you admire for ‘a Rose’ or say the line first and then follow up with the suggested substitution.
This line (by the way ‘flowres’ is the original and not a mis-spelling) is inscribed in the Rose Garden of Portland, Oregon – a city 2 noble kinsmenknown as the ‘City of Roses’ in the United States.
Today’s post gives me the occasion to thank all visitors to this site, especially international visitors and the visitors from Italy.
To receive an (almost) daily copy of the latest blog and Shakespearean verbal ‘weapon’ subscribe for free to this site (click on the top-right link on the menu) top the contact form.
And I promise, no sales calls, trade leads, venomous schemes, hidden plots, Machiavellian conspiracies, commercial ploys, psychological tricks, leads exchanges, barter proposals, suggestions or offers of any kind imaginable (and unimaginable)…. Continue reading →

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All Words, no Substance, Character defined

Posted on April 6, 2012 by jimmie

empty vessel, greater sound“I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true, ‘The empty vessel makes the greatest sound’.” (King Henry V, act 4, sc. 4)

Tips for Use.   Sarcastic comment on a loud character, especially if he thinks highly of himself.  Possible answer to the question, “What do you think of him?”, if the person qualifies in demeanor, speech and general qualities, “‘The empty vessel makes the greatest sound.”
To receive an (almost) daily copy… Continue reading →

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Shakespeare on Clear Communications and Presentation Ideas (take 2)

Posted on April 5, 2012 by jimmie

Hamlet quotation for clear speech “How absolute the knave is! We must speak by the card or equivocation will undo us.” (Hamlet, act 5, sc. 1)

Tips for Use.  If you are a public speaker or attended and participated to corporate meetings you may have experienced the event. That is, for the sake of simplification, you may, in your presentation or intervention, omit details that are clear or taken for granted. Yet, someone stands up, points out, complains or reprimands you for having left that information out. That’s the time to interject some irony, “We must speak by the card or equivocation will undo us.” …. Continue reading →

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Chronicle of Wasted Time, Shakespeare

Posted on April 4, 2012 by jimmie

Shakespeare, clock and chronicles of wasted time“When in the chronicle of wasted time,
I see description of the fairest wights,
And beauty making beautiful old rhyme…  (SON.106)

Tips for Use.   ‘Chronicles of Wasted Time’ has filtered into the English language as another expression used without reference to the source. Malcom Muggeridge, for example, so titled his very readable and instructive auto-biography.. ‘Chronicle of wasted time’ can become a modest (if true) and humorous self-effacing statement about (at least parts of) your life. Who can claim of not having wasted time?… Continue reading →

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Shakespeare and the Madness of Crowds

Posted on April 3, 2012 by jimmie

A head made of pills ingesting another pill“Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
What is’t but to be nothing else but mad?
But let that go.” (Hamlet, act 2, sc. 2)

Tips for Use.  Excellent reinforcement of the idea of madness. The redundancy and the obviousness in the quote enable irony laced with some inoffensive sarcasm.
Among the limitless examples of popular madness, the chosen image  represents  the endemic and universal obsession with pills, tablets, supplements, capsules, lozenges, medicines, medicaments, vitamins, herbal and non herbal remedies, minerals, extracts, teas, tisanes, infusions, antidotes, counteractants, counteragents, universal or specific panaceas, elixirs, physics, naturopathic and allopathic correctives, corroborants, dietetic enablers, emollients, peptics, prophylactics, restoratives, anti-oxidants, omegas this and that… and the list is by no means complete… Continue reading →

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Shakespeare and How to Ask a Question

Posted on April 2, 2012 by jimmie

Alternative way to ask a question“I will be a fool in question, hoping to be the wiser by your answer.” (All’s Well that Ends Well act 2, sc. 2)

Tips for Use.  In the art of communications it is generally assumed that answers are more important than questions. Therefore it is underestimated that the nature and quality of an answer depends also on how the question is asked. In a neutral setting – that is when the questioner and answerer are on equal grounds – the quoted line may help remove a possible degree of unease in both parties. That is, the quote adds a mild ironic or humorous tone to the question, helping to place the other party at ease (when answering). The humor…, Continue reading →

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Shakespeare and the Salt Wave of the Mediterranean

Posted on April 1, 2012 by jimmie

By the salt wave of the Mediterranean“By the salt wave of the Mediterranean…” (Love Labour’s Lost, act 5, sc. 1)

Tips for Use.  Alternative, elegant expletive-less exclamation. Useful, for example, to the public speaker before answering an unexpected question from the audience.
Exclamations belong to the currency of language. They are emphatic sentences to express surprise, incredulity, disgust, emotion and so on. An elegant Shakespearean Continue reading →

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Shakespeare, Sixth Sense, Perception and the Mind’s Eye

Posted on March 31, 2012 by jimmie

Hamlet …methinks I see my father.
Horatio  Where, my lord?
Hamlet  In my mind’s eye, Horatio. (Hamlet, act 1, sc.2)

Tips for Use.  When you cannot provide immediate evidence for your instincts and you are asked for an explanation. “I see it in my mind’s eye”, you can reply. It is a good alternative to asserting the possession of the so called sixth sense – assertion that would lose its value by stating it. Irrespective of whether your audience will believe you or not, they will probably be surprised or intrigued by your answer. Suitable even in a job interview when you do not have or do not want to go into long explanations of your reasons.
Hamlet coined the phrase “In my mind’s eye”, to represent Continue reading →

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