O thou well skill'd in curses, stay awhile And teach me…
““O thou well skill'd in curses, stay awhile And teach me how to curse mine enemies! QUEEN MARGARET. Forbear to sleep the nights, and fast the days; Compare dead happiness with living woe; Think that thy babes were sweeter than they were, And he that slew them fouler than he is. Bett'ring thy loss makes the bad-causer worse; Revolving this will teach thee how to curse. QUEEN ELIZABETH. My words are dull; O, quicken them with thine! QUEEN MARGARET. Thy woes will make them sharp and pierce like mine. DUCHESS. Why should calamity be fun of words? QUEEN ELIZABETH. Windy attorneys to their client woes, Airy succeeders of intestate joys, Poor breathing orators of miseries, Let them have scope; though what they will impart Help nothing else, yet do they case the heart. DUCHESS. If so, then be not tongue-tied. Go with me, And in the breath of bitter words let's smother My damned son that thy two sweet sons smother'd. The trumpet sounds; be copious in exclaims.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage explores curses, suffering, and the power of words, urging expression of pain and confronting injustice.
In simple terms: Expressing pain through words can be powerful.
Key Takeaway
Use language to confront hardship.
Themes
pain
expression
justice
language
Mood
dramatic
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- creative writing
- advocacy campaigns
Key Concepts
literature
psychology
rhetoric
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you channel frustration into constructive dialogue?
- When is silence more powerful than speech?
A Different Perspective
Words alone may not change outcomes without action.