Shame that your King is not so bound to you As he is bound…
““Shame that your King is not so bound to you As he is bound to what he sniffs. And bound to mute The voice that hints, just hints, he might be, um . . . Not wrong, of course, ah . . . how shall we put it - A hair's-breadth less than absolutely right. Here's the truth: King Agamemnon is not honour bound. Honour to Agamemnon is a thing That he can pick, pick up, put back, pick up again, A somesuch you might find beneath your bed. Do not tell Agamemnon honour is No mortal thing, but ever in creation, Vital, free, like speed, like light, Like silence, like the gods, The movement of the stars! Beyond the stars! Dividing man from beast, hero from host, That proves best, best, that only death can reach, Yet cannot die because it will be said, be sung, Now, and in time to be, for evermore.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Explores the mutable nature of honor and the divine versus mortal constraints.
In simple terms: Honor is flexible, not absolute.
Key Takeaway
Question rigid notions of honor.
Themes
honor
mythology
philosophy
Mood
contemplative
poetic
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- leadership decisions
- cultural narratives
- personal ethics
- artistic interpretation
Key Concepts
Classical literature
ethical relativism
Questions to Reflect On
- What defines honor today?
- How do myths influence modern values?
A Different Perspective
May romanticize ancient concepts.