Cowardice Quote by William Shakespeare
““Beware instinct--the lion will not touch the true prince. Instinct is a great matter.””
About This Quote
Source Play: King Lear, 1605
Instinct can betray true leadership; true princes must resist base impulses.
In simple terms: Instinct can mislead leaders.
Key Takeaway
Beware following gut over reason.
Themes
leadership
instinct
power
trust
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- political leadership
- personal decision making
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
human nature
psychology
authority
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate instinct from intuition?
- When is instinct a reliable guide?
A Different Perspective
Instinct may be necessary for survival in some contexts.
![“[D]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without a conscience a man may never be said to grow old. This is an age of very old young men.” quote by Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/076/hesketh-pearson-35291_age_d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-w_14010.jpg)
