Another time Quote by William Shakespeare
““Signior Antonio, many a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated me About my moneys and my usances; Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, For suff’rance is the badge of all our tribe; You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine, And all for use of that which is mine own. Well then, it now appears you need my help; Go to, then; you come to me, and you say ‘Shylock, we would have moneys.’ You say so: You that did void your rheum upon my beard, And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur Over your threshold; moneys is your suit. What should I say to you? Should I not say ‘Hath a dog money? Is it possible A cur can lend three thousand ducats?’ Or Shall I bend low and, in a bondman’s key, With bated breath and whisp’ring humbleness, Say this:— ‘Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; You spurn’d me such a day; another time You call’d me dog; and for these courtesies I’ll lend you thus much moneys?””
About This Quote
Source Play: The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1, 1596
Shylock confronts Antonio, demanding repayment while highlighting the prejudice he faces as a Jewish moneylender, and he uses irony to question the morality of lending money.
In simple terms: Shylock asks for repayment and points out his own mistreatment.
Consider fairness in debt and prejudice.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- court negotiation
- business debt
- personal vendetta
- social discrimination
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Is debt a fair tool for justice?
- How does bias affect financial dealings?
The argument assumes money can resolve moral grievances, which may not hold.