Country Quote by William Shakespeare
“If we are mark'd to die, we are enow To do our country loss; and if to live, The fewer men, the greater share of honour. God's will! I pray thee; wish not one man more.”
About This Quote
Source Play: Henry V, Act 4, Scene 3, 1599
Accepting mortality, he argues fewer soldiers can bring greater honor, invoking divine will.
In simple terms: Fewer men can achieve greater honor.
Key Takeaway
Embrace duty despite limited numbers.
Themes
honor
war
fate
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
philosophical
dramatic
When to use this quote
- military strategy
- public service
- personal sacrifice
Key Concepts
Stoicism
divine providence
leadership
Questions to Reflect On
- What does honor mean when lives are at stake?
- How do you reconcile duty with personal loss?
A Different Perspective
Idealizing sacrifice may ignore human cost.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
