For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground And tell sad…
““For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground And tell sad stories of the death of kings; How some have been deposed; some slain in war, Some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed; Some poison'd by their wives: some sleeping kill'd; All murder'd: for within the hollow crown That rounds the mortal temples of a king Keeps Death his court and there the antic sits, Scoffing his state and grinning at his pomp, Allowing him a breath, a little scene, To monarchize, be fear'd and kill with looks, Infusing him with self and vain conceit, As if this flesh which walls about our life, Were brass impregnable, and humour'd thus Comes at the last and with a little pin Bores through his castle wall, and farewell king!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Kings are vulnerable to mortality and the futility of power, as death mocks their grandeur.
In simple terms: Even kings cannot escape death’s irony.
Key Takeaway
Remember the impermanence of authority.
Themes
mortality
power
hubris
humanity
Mood
melancholic
thoughtful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- theatrical performance
- literary analysis
- philosophical discussion
Key Concepts
Existential irony
royal downfall
philosophical reflection
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this passage reveal about the nature of leadership?
- How does humor soften the tragedy of death?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations may vary across cultures and eras.