Category Archives: Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations

Bertrand Russell complained about one of his grandmother’s preferred puns, “What is mind? Doesn’s matter. What is matter? Never mind.” And yet we, as a species, continuously attempt to fathom the mystery of the mind, with the help of philosophy, psychology and history. Shakespeare has given us much food for thought on all three, as well as music for those who love the music of words.

Shakespeare, Victoria Secret and the Corruption of Neo-liberal Capitalism

Posted on March 29, 2013 by jimmie

“…she that sets seeds and roots of shame and iniquity” (Pericles, act 4, sc. 6) Comment. The appellation, let alone the profession of moralist is historically suspect. Who has the qualifications or the right to dictate moral canons to others? For this reason morality is inevitably intertwined with theological opinions – opinions that, supposedly coming Read More

Posted in Best Shakespeare Quotes, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Fighting your Adversary, Insults Shakespeare-style, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Presentation Ideas, Shakespeare Invocations, Shakespeare on Education, Shakespeare on Mass Psychology and Group Behavior, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Shakespeare and leaked-out Video of Torture inside US Prison

Posted on March 25, 2013 by jimmie

“I might not this believe Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes.” (Hamlet, act 1, sc. 1) Comment. The video (link following comment) speaks by itself. It is posted here because there are still some who believe that the US administration and governments are the mirrors of democracy and staunch defenders and Read More

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To Be or not to Be (an Accomplice of the Argentine Junta)

Posted on March 23, 2013 by jimmie

“… that is the question, Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? …” (Hamlet, act 3, sc. 1) Comment. Yes, indeed, is it nobler in the mind to be deaf and blind towards Read More

Posted in Answers to Interviews, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Presentation Ideas, Shakespeare in Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Shakespeare, Murder, the Iraq War and a Letter from a Dying Soldier

Posted on March 20, 2013 by jimmie

“Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange and unnatural” (Hamlet, act 1, sc. 5) Comment.  It is the 10th Anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, when the arrogant ostentation of a nauseating, foul, debased and humanly-worthless elite thought it was courageous to destroy a small and independent country. Read More

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Shakespeare on Wall Street

Posted on March 18, 2013 by jimmie

“If that be right which Warwick says is right There is no wrong, but everything is right.” (King Henry VI, part 3, act 2, sc. 2) Comment. Few will disagree that these days it is increasingly difficult to make sense of banks and of the law (at least as banks are concerned). And while bankers Read More

Posted in Best Shakespeare Quotes, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Fighting your Adversary, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics, Shakespeare Invocations, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Shakespeare and more on Physiognomy

Posted on March 17, 2013 by jimmie

“…The tartness of his face sours ripe grapes” (Coriolanus, act 5, sc. 4) Comment. The preceding blog (Mar 16, 2013, title, “Shakespeare, Physiognomy, the Pope and Lavater”) triggered a few direct e-mails and a comment, more or less condemning the practice to judge a person from his appearance, notably his/her face. Who could disagree?  But Read More

Posted in Best Shakespeare Quotes, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics, Shakespeare on Mass Psychology and Group Behavior, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Shakespeare, Physiognomy, the Pope and Lavater

Posted on March 16, 2013 by jimmie

“Your face, my thane, is as a book where men May read strange matters…” (Macbeth, act 1, sc. 5 Comment. As usual, there is a barrage of opposing statements regarding the new Pope’s relation with the Argentinian Junta, responsible for the so-called “Dirty War” and the repression of the 1970s – 1980s. Repression is actually Read More

Posted in Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Presentation Ideas, Sayings about Life, Shakespeare on Mass Psychology and Group Behavior, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Shakespeare, Crowds in St. Peter’s Square and the Pope

Posted on March 14, 2013 by jimmie

“… is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight?” (King Henry IV, part 1, act 5, sc. 3) Comment. Gustave Le Bon (1841-1931) was a French sociologist famous for his study of the behavior of crowds. His book “The Crowd – A Study of the Popular Mind” is instructive. As it is the case with Read More

Posted in Amusing Shakespeare, Best Shakespeare Quotes, Chances Quotes, Elegant Shakespearean Quotes, Philosophical, Psychological & Historical Considerations, Shakespeare in Management, Shakespeare in Politics, Shakespeare Invocations, Shakespeare on Mass Psychology and Group Behavior, Social Exchanges Shakespeare style | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Shakespeare, Crowds in St. Peter’s Square and the Pope

Shakespeare, Primroses, Austerity and Hypocrisy

Posted on March 13, 2013 by jimmie

…. The primrose path of dalliance threads And recks not his own rede” (Hamlet, act 1, sc. 3) Comment. If yesterday it was daffodils, today it is primroses (primula vulgaris, for the botanists), another floral emblem of Spring. Equally laden, furthermore, with symbolic and metaphorical meanings, pertinent to Laertes’ (as it’s the case here), as Read More

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Daffodils, Shakespeare, Wordworth, Rustle of Spring, Poetry and Music

Posted on March 12, 2013 by jimmie

“Daffodils, that come before the swallow dares, and take The winds of March with beauty” (Winter’s Tale, act 4, sc. 4) Comment. Today we will deflect our gaze from the contemptible machinations of warmongers, thieves, perverts and unpalatable politicians. We are at the edge of Spring among whose heralds are the daffodils, now in plentiful Read More

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