Wise Words From Shakespeare
“Love all, trust a few,
Do wrong to none: be able for thine enemy
Rather in power than use; and keep thy friend
Under thy own life's key: be check'd for silence,
But never tax'd for speech.”
― William Shakespeare, All's Well That Ends Well
"English" translation using ChatGPT:
"Love all, trust a few": Be kind and compassionate to everyone, but trust only a select few people. Not everyone is trustworthy, and wisdom lies in knowing whom to trust.
"Do wrong to none": Do no harm to anyone; live in a way that is morally good and avoid causing others pain or suffering.
"Be able for thine enemy rather in power than use": Be capable of dealing with your enemies, not by constantly using your power, but by having it at your disposal when necessary. It’s about being prepared without being aggressive.
"Keep thy friend under thy own life's key": Maintain control over your close relationships; don’t give away too much of yourself too easily, even with friends. Be careful about what you share, but value and protect your friendships.
"Be check'd for silence, but never tax'd for speech": It’s better to be criticized for being silent than for speaking too much or saying the wrong thing. This encourages thoughtfulness before speaking, avoiding unnecessary or harmful words.
Shakespeare is one of my heroes.