---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At this hour Lie at my mercy all mine…"
description: "\"At this hour Lie at my mercy all mine enemies.\" — William Shakespeare"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/william-shakespeare-4_compassion_at-this-hour-lie-at-my-mercy-all-mine-en_2864480.jpg"
---

#  At this hour Lie at my mercy all mine enemies.

![“At this hour Lie at my mercy all mine enemies.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/william-shakespeare-4_compassion_at-this-hour-lie-at-my-mercy-all-mine-en_2864480.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/william-shakespeare-4_compassion_at-this-hour-lie-at-my-mercy-all-mine-en_2864480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/william-shakespeare-4_compassion_at-this-hour-lie-at-my-mercy-all-mine-en_2864480.jpg)

> “At this hour Lie at my mercy all mine enemies.”

[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.

A plea for mercy from enemies reflects desperation and the desire for clemency in a moment of vulnerability.

**In simple terms:** Desperate plea for mercy.

Key Takeaway

Seek compassion in conflict.

Themes

power mercy conflict vulnerability desperation

Mood

dramatic reflective

Type

theatrical ethical

When to use this quote

- court negotiations
- personal apologies
- conflict mediation
- psychological counseling

Key Concepts

dramatic literature political intrigue human nature

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you asked for mercy?
- What can you offer in return for clemency?

A Different Perspective

Mercy may be denied by the powerful.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Enemies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemies/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Revenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revenge/) [Tempest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tempest/)

## Related quotes

> [I can be serious for an hour; then I have to go lie down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-petri/i-can-be-serious-for-an-hour-then-i-have-to-go-lie-down/)

[Alexandra Petri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-petri/)

> [“My lord is coming, and he will have no mercy on his enemies!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-tesar/my-lord-is-coming-and-he-will-have-no-mercy-on-his-enemies/)

[Jason Tesar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-tesar/)

> [“I hold no mercy for my enemies because mercy is for suckers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-goeglein/i-hold-no-mercy-for-my-enemies-because-mercy-is-for-suckers/)

[T.M. Goeglein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-m-goeglein/)

> [May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I wont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/humaira/may-god-have-mercy-upon-my-enemies-because-i-wont/)

[Humaira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/humaira/)

> [May God have mercy for my enemies because I won't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-god-have-mercy-for-my-enemies-because-i-won-t/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If you are not with me, you are against me. I have no mercy for my enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/if-you-are-not-with-me-you-are-against-me-i-have-no-mercy-for-my/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you-trippingly on the tongue; but if you mouth it, as many of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/speak-the-speech-i-pray-you-as-i-pronounced-it-to-you-trippingly-on-2/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [And teach me how To name the bigger light, and how the less, That burn by day and night ...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/and-teach-me-how-to-name-the-bigger-light-and-how-the-less-that-burn/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [O, I have suffered With those that I saw suffer!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-i-have-suffered-with-those-that-i-saw-suffer/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Be collected. No more amazement. Tell your piteous heart There's no harm done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-collected-no-more-amazement-tell-your-piteous-heart-there-s-no/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-me-not-to-the-marriage-of-true-minds-admit-impediments-love-is/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [What, all so soon asleep! I wish mine eyes Would, with themselves, shut up my thoughts...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-all-so-soon-asleep-i-wish-mine-eyes-would-with-themselves-shut/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-not-afeard-the-isle-is-full-of-noises/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-loved-ophelia-forty-thousand-brothers-could-not-with-all-their/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Love comforteth like sunshine after rain, But Lust's effect is tempest after sun; Love's gentle spring doth always fresh remain, Lust's winter comes ere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-comforteth-like-sunshine-after-rain-but-lust-s-effect-is-tempest/)

[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 Compassion quotes

> [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/)

Segun Magbagbeola

> [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/)

[Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/)

> [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/)

[Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/)

> [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/)

Talib al Habib

> [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/)

[Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/)

[Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "At this hour Lie at my mercy all mine enemies.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Shakespeare"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/at-this-hour-lie-at-my-mercy-all-mine-enemies/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Compassion"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/at-this-hour-lie-at-my-mercy-all-mine-enemies/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/william-shakespeare-4_compassion_at-this-hour-lie-at-my-mercy-all-mine-en_2864480.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/william-shakespeare-4_compassion_at-this-hour-lie-at-my-mercy-all-mine-en_2864480.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95d/william-shakespeare-4_compassion_at-this-hour-lie-at-my-mercy-all-mine-en_2864480.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“At this hour Lie at my mercy all mine enemies.” — William Shakespeare",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "William Shakespeare",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "At this hour Lie at my...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/at-this-hour-lie-at-my-mercy-all-mine-enemies/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/at-this-hour-lie-at-my-mercy-all-mine-enemies/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
