Shakespeare and the Drawbacks of Education

Posted on March 30, 2012 by jimmie

Prospero taught language to Caliban with unexpected results“You taught me language and my profit on it
Is, I know how to curse.” (Tempest, act 1, sc. 2)

Tips for Use.  Excellent introduction for him who is delivering a presentation (alas! often a sermon) on education. E.G. “As Caliban told his teacher Prospero, ‘You taught me language and my profit on it is that I know how to curse.”
The lines may also be helpful if you are concerned that your possible over-education may overwhelm a potential employer. We know very well that one of the easiest excuses for rejecting an applicant is that he is ‘over-qualified’. In truth often he/she is. By quoting Caliban you may cast some welcome irony, showing that you are not a pompous ass. Continue reading →

Posted in After Dinner Quotes, Amusing Shakespeare, Answers to Interviews, Business Presentations, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics, Shakespeare on Education, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare and the Drawbacks of Education

Shakespeare on Persistence that pays off, at Work and in Love

Posted on March 29, 2012 by jimmie

He that will have a cake out of the wheat must tarry the grinding“He that will have a cake out of the wheat, must tarry the grinding.” (Troilus and Cressida act 1, sc. 1)

Tips for Use. These lines have multiple applications. Excellent, for example, during a job interview when your prospective employer asks you that canonical (and between ourselves silly) question, “Are you afraid of hard work?”, “Can you work overtime?” or similar. The point here is not in the answer – who would be so dumb as to say ‘no’? The objective, as with all usages of pointed Shakespearean quotations, is to surprise your counterpart. You can bet several hundred $$$ that the interviewer will not expect your answer. Continue reading →

Posted in Amusing Shakespeare, Answers to Interviews, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Compliments, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Encouraging Quotes, Motivational Sayings, Presentation Ideas, Romantic Shakespearean Quotes, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics, Typical Interview Questions | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare on Persistence that pays off, at Work and in Love

Shakespeare Quote for Turning Weaknesses into Strengths

Posted on March 28, 2012 by jimmie

“They say best men are moulded out of faults,
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad.” (Measure for Measure, act 5, sc.1)

Tips for Use. Excellent lines to turn a problem into a feature, as software developers are known to say (and do). Or rather turn a setback or a character liability into an asset. Particularly usable during a job interview, if the prospective employer harps on a weakness in your resume or something that you may have done wrong (short of murder, theft or any possible unspeakable crime). Even a politician may use these lines in certain circumstances. For example, to justify why in his past he was a communist (or a fascist)… Continue reading →

Posted in After Dinner Quotes, Answers to Interviews, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Business Presentations, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Encouraging Quotes, Motivational Sayings, Presentation Ideas, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare Quote for Turning Weaknesses into Strengths

Shakespeare on Commitment, Purpose and/or Lack of them

Posted on March 27, 2012 by jimmie

Image to represent purpose, commitment and vows“It is the purpose that makes strong the vow;
But vows to every purpose must not hold.” (Troilus and Cressida act 5, sc. 3)

Tips for Use. There are two applications possible. One (“It is the purpose that makes strong the vow”) is a warning or caution against inconsistency – especially applicable to politicians. As general rule the more vague is the ‘vow’ the more likely that it means nothing. Typical is Obama’s campaign slogan “Yes we can”. If anyone can offer at least a semi-rational meaning, please write about it.
Equally as frequent… Continue reading →

Posted in After Dinner Quotes, Answers to Interviews, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Business Presentations, Motivational Sayings, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare on Commitment, Purpose and/or Lack of them

Shakespeare and enforced or self-enforced silence

Posted on March 26, 2012 by jimmie

When silence is imposted but you cannot refgrain from saying something“It is not nor it cannot come to good:
But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue.” (H.1.2)

Tips for Use. A concise, elegant, diplomatic and yet forceful way to indicate your displeasure at unraveling of things, “Break my heart, for I must hold my tongue.” Equally good when you wish to show your disagreement with clearness and precision and yet remaining totally and politically correct, “It is not nor it cannot come to good.” There you have it, two quotations in one.
As for the thought of the day. Continue reading →

Posted in Best Shakespeare Quotes, Business Presentations, Fighting your Adversary, Motivational Sayings, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare and enforced or self-enforced silence

Shakespeare, destiny and fate

Posted on March 25, 2012 by jimmie

Best Shakespeare quote dealing with destiny shown as a lottery“…the lottery of my destiny
Bars me the right of voluntary choosing.” (Merchant of Venice.2.1)

Tips for Use. A statement of philosophical resignation to events or occurrences on which we have no control. Also a usually acceptable formula to somewhat exempt yourself from your actions or responsibilities. Or indicate that the choices you made were inevitable. Even usable during an interview especially when the interviewer insists on delving one or more parts of your curriculum.
In Greek mythology the Moirae were the goddesses of fate who represented… Continue reading →

Posted in Answers to Interviews, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Business Presentations, Chances Quotes, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Motivational Sayings, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Presentation Ideas, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare, destiny and fate

Shakespeare and the idea of Time

Posted on March 24, 2012 by jimmie

 Time, the measure of everything“….the end crowns all,
And that old common arbitrator, Time,
Will one day end it.” (Troilus and Cressida act 4 sc.5)

Tips for Use.  A more original and elegant alternative to the classical, “ que sera’ sera’ “. When the debate as to what may or may not happen cannot be resolved. Equally, an appropriate comment to underscore the current political and economical situation. Not to inspire e fatalistic or nihilistic attitude towards it; rather to realize that the needle of the scale is on a very narrow edge. The rampant globalization, unless checked by the popular will, can easily turn into a formidable instrument of destruction of an orderly social community (and creaks and crack in the system are heard and seen, notably in Europe. Continue reading →

Posted in Answers to Interviews, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Business Presentations, Chances Quotes, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Motivational Sayings, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare and the idea of Time

Shakespeare, Thought as the Arbiter of Good and Bad

Posted on March 23, 2012 by jimmie

 Hamlet's philosophical considerations on the process of thought“…for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” (Hamlet act 2, sc. 2)

Tips for Use.  When you try to rationalize a difference of opinion on a matter that can be judged one way or another. Short as it is, the line embodies a profound philosophical and practical truth the consequences of which we see or experience every day.
Given the almost infinite source of examples current and past let’s take one at random.
Today, if consulted about it, almost everyone will say that we live in a democracy under a regime of free trade. A minimal consideration would show that this is a colossal fib. Continue reading →

Posted in After Dinner Quotes, Answers to Interviews, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Business Presentations, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Motivational Sayings, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare, Thought as the Arbiter of Good and Bad

Shakespeare and social (in)justice

Posted on March 22, 2012 by jimmie

Thieves for their robbery have authority...“Thieves for their robbery have authority,
When judges steal themselves.” (Measure for Measure act 2, sc. 2)

Tips for Use.  We can find erudite explanations about the mechanisms enabling society to function. Explanations given by historians, sociologists, psychologists, economists, politicians, philosophers and even poets as in this case. But the mystery remains. Petty crimes are justly prosecuted and punished while thievery on a large scale not only goes unpunished, but is actually rewarded. Examples abound and one of the most egregious is the case of the mega-banks. Banks that, after having squandered the citizens’ funds in reckless speculations and mega-bonuses for the speculators, are “saved” by injecting more citizens’ money into the same banks. It is still continuing as we speak. Continue reading →

Posted in After Dinner Quotes, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Motivational Sayings, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Presentation Ideas, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare and social (in)justice

Shakespeare on Clear Communications & Presentation Ideas

Posted on March 21, 2012 by jimmie

Richard III an honest tale speeds best...“An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.” (King Richard III act4, sc. 4)

Tips for Use.  In times when confusion is a sign of intelligence and ambiguity of genius suggesting otherwise is painfully naïve. Often, however, there is some unexpected value in (at least) the appearance of honesty. This is part of the indispensable equipment of many a politician (not to say all), let alone salesmen, advertisers, promoters and a vast class of purveyors of nonsense. Continue reading →

Posted in After Dinner Quotes, Answers to Interviews, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Business Presentations, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Motivational Sayings, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics, Typical Interview Questions | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare on Clear Communications & Presentation Ideas