--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As he was valiant, I honor him. But as he…" description: "\"“As he was valiant, I honor him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him.”\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/william-shakespeare-4_quote_as-he-was-valiant-i-honor-him-but-as-he_2118575.jpg" --- # As he was valiant, I honor him. But as he was ambitious, I… ![“As he was valiant, I honor him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/william-shakespeare-4_quote_as-he-was-valiant-i-honor-him-but-as-he_2118575.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/william-shakespeare-4_quote_as-he-was-valiant-i-honor-him-but-as-he_2118575.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/172/william-shakespeare-4_quote_as-he-was-valiant-i-honor-him-but-as-he_2118575.jpg) > ““As he was valiant, I honor him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him.”” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Valor and ambition are intertwined; greatness can be both honored and feared. **In simple terms:** Greatness can bring both respect and danger. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with humility. Themes power ambition honor betrayal Mood dramatic reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - military command - personal ambition Key Concepts political morality human nature Questions to Reflect On - What drives your ambition? - How do you ensure honor guides your actions? A Different Perspective Ambition may lead to downfall if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) [Ambitious Slew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious-slew-4310786/) [Honor Ambitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honor-ambitious-4310785/) [Valiant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valiant/) [Valiant Honor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valiant-honor-4310787/) ## Related quotes > [As he was valiant, I honour him. But as he was ambitious, I slew him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/as-he-was-valiant-i-honour-him-but-as-he-was-ambitious-i-slew-him/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Thou slave, thou wretch, thou coward! Thou little valiant, great in villainy! Thou ever strong upon the stronger side! Thou Fortune's champion, that dost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-slave-thou-wretch-thou-coward-thou-little-valiant-great-in/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/cowards-die-many-times-before-their-deaths-the-valiant-never-taste-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Where I could not be honest, I never yet was valiant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/where-i-could-not-be-honest-i-never-yet-was-valiant/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [This man, lady, hath robb'd many beasts of their particular additions: he is as valiant as a lion, churlish as the bear, slow as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/this-man-lady-hath-robb-d-many-beasts-of-their-particular-additions/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The valiant never taste of death but once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-valiant-never-taste-of-death-but-once/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Cowards die many time before their death... the valiant never tastes of death but once...- Julius Caesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/cowards-die-many-time-before-their-death-the-valiant-never-tastes-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Why, thou knowest I am as valiant as Hercules, but beware instinct. 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(To be angry is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/to-move-is-to-stir-and-to-be-valiant-is-to-stand-therefore-if-tou-art/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste death but once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/cowards-die-many-times-before-their-deaths-the-valiant-never-taste/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [That island of England breeds very valiant creatures; their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/that-island-of-england-breeds-very-valiant-creatures-their-mastiffs/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband. BEATRICE Not till God make men of some other metal than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/well-niece-i-hope-to-see-you-one-day-fitted-with-a-husband-beatrice/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [That's a valiant flea that dares eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/that-s-a-valiant-flea-that-dares-eat-his-breakfast-on-the-lip-of-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer The worst that man can breathe, and make his wrongs His outsides, to wear them like his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-s-truly-valiant-that-can-wisely-suffer-the-worst-that-man-can/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie? I will name you the degrees. The first, the Retort Courteous; the second,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/can-you-nominate-in-order-now-the-degrees-of-the-lie-i-will-name-you/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More Ambitious quotes > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [“Getting rich is easy, staying rich is impressive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-trip/getting-rich-is-easy-staying-rich-is-impressive/) [Don Trip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-trip/) > [Trying to be perfect may be inevitable for people who are smart and ambitious and interested in the world and its good opinion...What is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/trying-to-be-perfect-may-be-inevitable-for-people-who-are-smart-and/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/) [Chris Kirubi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kirubi/) > [I am ambitious to do more than what has been offered me. I want to be the best in whatever career I choose and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/uday-chopra/i-am-ambitious-to-do-more-than-what-has-been-offered-me-i-want-to-be/) [Uday Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/uday-chopra/) > [There are four varieties in society — the lovers, the ambitious, observers, and fools. The fools are the happiest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hippolyte-taine/there-are-four-varieties-in-society-the-lovers-the-ambitious/) [Hippolyte Taine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hippolyte-taine/) > [People who are ambitious - politicians who crave power - think that they're in control of it, but at some point, the movement that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-liu/people-who-are-ambitious-politicians-who-crave-power-think-that-they/) [Ken Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-liu/) > [I'm not ambitious. Not a bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-m-not-ambitious-not-a-bit/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [Aggressive and hard-charging women violate unwritten rules about acceptable social conduct. Men are continually applauded for being ambitious and powerful and successful, but women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/aggressive-and-hard-charging-women-violate-unwritten-rules-about/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [I understood early on that I was not the best-looking girl in the room. But I knew my advantage was a hard work ethic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-understood-early-on-that-i-was-not-the-best-looking-girl-in-the/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [It is ordained that to the ambitious, who derive no satisfaction from the gifts of life and the beauty of the world, life shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/it-is-ordained-that-to-the-ambitious-who-derive-no-satisfaction-from/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) > [If Reagan and John Paul II were linked by anything, it was a grand, ambitious, and generous idea of Western political civilization, one in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/if-reagan-and-john-paul-ii-were-linked-by-anything-it-was-a-grand/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [To talk only about national security, national defense, means to be selfish, ambitious. It is discrimination, isolation. "It is just me. What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evo-morales/to-talk-only-about-national-security-national-defense-means-to-be/) [Evo Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evo-morales/) [Browse all 1,269 Ambitious quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitious/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As he was valiant, I honor him. 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