Quote by William Shakespeare
““You are such a woman! A man knows not at what ward you lie. CRESSIDA Upon my back, to defend my belly; upon my wit, to defend my wiles; upon my secrecy, to defend mine honesty; my mask, to defend my beauty; and you, to defend all these; and at all these wards I lie at, at a thousand watches. PANDARUS Say one of your watches. CRESSIDA Nay, I'll watch you for that; and that's one of the chiefest of them too. If I cannot ward what I would not have hit, I can watch you for telling how I took the blow; unless it swell past hiding, and then it's past watching.””
About This Quote
Source Play: Cymbeline, Act III, Scene 2, 1623
A woman describes the many defenses she uses—physical, intellectual, emotional—to protect herself, and a man challenges her to reveal her true vulnerabilities.
In simple terms: She lists many ways she protects herself; he asks her to expose her true self.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and balance self‑protection with openness.
Themes
self‑defense
vulnerability
trust
identity
power dynamics
Mood
reflective
introspective
cautious
Type
philosophical
dialogue
When to use this quote
- romantic relationships
- courtship
- personal boundaries
- conflict resolution
- self‑awareness
Key Concepts
psychology
social masks
defense mechanisms
Questions to Reflect On
- What defenses are you using?
- How can you safely lower them?
A Different Perspective
She may be overly guarded, limiting intimacy.
![“Oh, it's nothing to be ashamed of. Slaying a villain in the service of your king is the stuff of legends and what heroes are made of." [Fanen told Myron] "It didn't feel very heroic. It made me sick. I don't even know why I... no, that's a lie. I really have to stop doing that." [Myron said]…” quote by Michael J. Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9eb/michael-j-sullivan-3113_accept-yourself_oh-it-s-nothing-to-be-ashamed-of-slaying_917595.jpg)
