Category Archives: Fighting your Adversary

Shakespeare on Pageantry, Pomp and the Fleeting Nature of Power

“… what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust? And, live we how we can, yet die we must.” (King Henry VI part 3., act 5, sc. 2) Comments. No explanation is needed for these words uttered by Warwick the king-maker as he lies on the ground, wounded during the battle of Barnet (1471). Read More

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Shakespeare on Straight Talk, Sincerity and No Beating Around the Bush

“What I think I utter and spend my malice in my breath.” (Coriolanus, act 2, sc. 1) Tips for use.  A good way to declare both your sincerity, particularly if there is a hint or innuendo that you may be hiding something. A characteristic or quality that would be ideal with many a politician. Or Read More

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Shakespeare on Boredom, Boring Speaker, Lengthy Event and Polite Insults

“This will last out a night in Russia, When nights are longest there“ (Measure For Measure, act 2, sc. 1) Tips for use.  A sentiment that, no doubt, many of us have felt or acquired when exposed to interminable presentations by a particularly boring speaker. Or when we have been obliged by politeness to attend Read More

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Shakespeare on Hypocrisy, Deception and False Appearances

“O, what may man within him hide, Though angel on the outward side!” (Measure For Measure, act 3, sc. 2) Tips for use.  A pointed comment on hypocrisy and hypocrites and generally on deceptive or false appearances. The word hypocrisy is of Greek derivation, hypokrisis, “acting on the stage, pretense”. Describing a European country in Read More

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Shakespeare’s Best Insults and Best Curses, Guts and Vultures

“Let vultures gripe thy guts.” (Merry Wives of Windsor act 1, sc. 3) Tips for use. Excellent retort to an accusation or act or word of insolence when you do not immediately have an answer. Excellent comeback during a political debate. No doubt Pistol had in mind the myth of Prometheus, the Titan god of Read More

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Shakespeare on Disliking a Person

MESSENGER. I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books. BEATRICE. No; and if he were, I would burn my study.” (Much Ado About Nothing, act 1, sc. 1) Tips for Use.  Express displeasure and distance yourself from the object of your displeasure. E.G. ‘He is not in my books and if he were, Read More

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Shakespeare on Power, Arrogance and the Arrogance of Power

“… man, proud man, Dressed in a little brief authority, Most ignorant of what he’s most assured, His glassy essence, like an angry ape, Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven As make the angels weep.” (Measure For Measure act 2, sc. 2) Tips for Use. Include the lines in a resignation email when you Read More

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Shakespeare on Thank you, Thank you notes, Comebacks and Insults

“Thank me no thankings, nor, proud me no prouds” (Romeo and Juliet, act 3, sc. 5) Tips for Use. Perfect repartee for insincere social expressions and an elegant way to invite the other party(ies) to cut to the chase. Particularly applicable when the thanking appears insincere or when you wish to deflect with some humor Read More

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Shakespeare on Relative Strengths and Weaknesses

“To end a tale of length, Troy in our weakness stands, not in her strength.” (Troilus and Cressida, act 1, sc. 3) Tips for Use. Change ‘Troy’ to any other city, state, person, situation, circumstances, where the enemy appears strong because the weaker party is incapable of organizing itself. In fact the truth is so Read More

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Shakespeare on Those Who are Thick with It

“…his wit is as thick as Tewkesbury mustard!” (King Henry IV p2, act 2, sc. 4) Comments.  Excellent comeback especially appropriate for people who think of themselves as being witty when they are not.  One such category is that of the critics, who, according to Anton Checkhov “…are like horse-flies which prevent the horse from Read More

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