---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How Low am I, thou painted Maypole?…"
description: "\"“How Low am I, thou painted Maypole? Speak: How Low am I? I am not yet so Low But that my Nails can reach unto thine Eyes”\" — William Shakespeare"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/william-shakespeare-4_humor_how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-speak_1017373.jpg"
---

#  How Low am I, thou painted Maypole? Speak: How Low am I? I…

![“How Low am I, thou painted Maypole? Speak: How Low am I? I am not yet so Low But that my Nails can reach unto thine Eyes” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/william-shakespeare-4_humor_how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-speak_1017373.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/william-shakespeare-4_humor_how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-speak_1017373.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/william-shakespeare-4_humor_how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-speak_1017373.jpg)

> ““How Low am I, thou painted Maypole? Speak: How Low am I? I am not yet so Low But that my Nails can reach unto thine Eyes””

[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 speaker laments his low status, yet claims his devotion is so deep it can reach the beloved’s eyes.

**In simple terms:** Low status, deep devotion.

Key Takeaway

Express love despite humble position.

Themes

humility devotion love

Mood

dramatic romantic

Type

literary inspirational

When to use this quote

- courtship
- unrequited love
- social hierarchy
- self-worth

Key Concepts

metaphor courtly love

Questions to Reflect On

- How can humility strengthen love?
- What limits does social status impose on affection?

A Different Perspective

May be overly dramatic, lacking practicality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/)

## Related quotes

> [How low am I, thou painted maypole?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole/)

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

> [How low am I, thou painted maypole? (Hermia to Helena)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-hermia-to-helena/)

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

> [Thine eyes I love, and they as pitying me, Knowing thy heart torment me with disdain, Have put on black, and loving mourners be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thine-eyes-i-love-and-they-as-pitying-me-knowing-thy-heart-torment-me-2/)

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

> [Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me, Knowing thy heart torment me with disdain, Have put on black and loving mourners be,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thine-eyes-i-love-and-they-as-pitying-me-knowing-thy-heart-torment-me/)

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

> [Thine eyes that clouds with anger and sorrow, shall not desereve to see tomorrow. Thine heart that is afflicted with blood and pain, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thine-eyes-that-clouds-with-anger-and-sorrow-shall-not-desereve-to/)

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

> [Thine eyes are springs in whose serene And silent waters heaven is seen. Their lashes are the herbs that look On their young figures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-bryant/thine-eyes-are-springs-in-whose-serene-and-silent-waters-heaven-is/)

[William C. Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-bryant/)

> [When'er into thine eyes I see, All pain and sorrow fly from me. \[Ger., Wenn ich in deine Augen sch' So schwindet all' mein…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinrich-heine/when-er-into-thine-eyes-i-see-all-pain-and-sorrow-fly-from-me-ger/)

[Heinrich Heine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinrich-heine/)

> [Deign on the passing world to turn thine eyes, And pause a while from learning to be wise. There mark what ills the scholar's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/deign-on-the-passing-world-to-turn-thine-eyes-and-pause-a-while-from/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [Child of mortality, whence comest thou? Why is thy countenance sad, and why are thine eyes red with weeping?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/child-of-mortality-whence-comest-thou-why-is-thy-countenance-sad-and/)

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

> [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/)

> [Painting my nails is the easiest way to look as though I've made an effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fallon/painting-my-nails-is-the-easiest-way-to-look-as-though-i-ve-made-an/)

[Jane Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fallon/)

> [I don't do yoga. I bite the hella outta my nails. I smoke, I eat all the wrong food, I don't exercise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-marie-presley/i-don-t-do-yoga-i-bite-the-hella-outta-my-nails-i-smoke-i-eat-all-the/)

[Lisa Marie Presley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-marie-presley/)

> [When I get home, I'm not the boss like I am at work - I slip into a more feminine role. I take everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-kerr/when-i-get-home-i-m-not-the-boss-like-i-am-at-work-i-slip-into-a-more/)

[Miranda Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-kerr/)

> [Overall, we had about 50 meetings where the brothers would say that I couldn't do any solo records, I couldn't write for other people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-hagar/overall-we-had-about-50-meetings-where-the-brothers-would-say-that-i/)

[Sammy Hagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-hagar/)

> [“Now, from the crown of my head to the curve of my toe-nails, there was an unguent for every part of me - oil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-waters/now-from-the-crown-of-my-head-to-the-curve-of-my-toe-nails-there-was/)

[Sarah Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-waters/)

## 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 Humor quotes

> ['Mad TV' is one of my most favorite shows of all time and is a huge part of my obsession with sketch comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-dawson/mad-tv-is-one-of-my-most-favorite-shows-of-all-time-and-is-a-huge/)

[Shane Dawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-dawson/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [In my opinion, sexiness comes down to three things: chemistry, sense of humor, and treatment of waitstaff at restaurants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhoda-janzen/in-my-opinion-sexiness-comes-down-to-three-things-chemistry-sense-of/)

[Rhoda Janzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhoda-janzen/)

> [“...I haven't guessed where your shirt is from yet Bane, but I don't think it'll matter once it's underwater!' Tristan looked at Bane questioningly.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-k-munt/i-haven-t-guessed-where-your-shirt-is-from-yet-bane-but-i-don-t-think/)

S.K. Munt

> [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/)

Markus Herz

> [“Not wise, perhaps, to be rude to the Pope's favorite son, but my viper tongue still required a fool now and then on which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-quinn/not-wise-perhaps-to-be-rude-to-the-pope-s-favorite-son-but-my-viper/)

[Kate Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-quinn/)

> [In the future, I would like to do more films with contemporary themes. Perhaps comedy, which is something I have done in theater but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/in-the-future-i-would-like-to-do-more-films-with-contemporary-themes/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you were to send a werewolf to the moon, would he be a werewolf permanently?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-schaal/if-you-were-to-send-a-werewolf-to-the-moon-would-he-be-a-werewolf/)

[Kristen Schaal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-schaal/)

> [“I only have two words to say More or Less”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timbur/i-only-have-two-words-to-say-more-or-less/)

TimBur

> [“ “Do Southerners laugh at different things than Northerners do? Yes, I say--Northerners.” Roy Blount, Jr., Roy Blount’s Book of Southern Humor”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/do-southerners-laugh-at-different-things-than-northerners-do-yes-i/)

[Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/)

> [There's a difference between delivering real funny and just silly funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-rel-howery/there-s-a-difference-between-delivering-real-funny-and-just-silly/)

[Lil Rel Howery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-rel-howery/)

> [I love being my silly ole self! Lifes a lot better when you have a good sense of humor and you smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-love-being-my-silly-ole-self-lifes-a-lot-better-when-you-have-a/)

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

> [“Men circle like bees around honey, buzzing to communicate their sexual despair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carla-h-krueger/men-circle-like-bees-around-honey-buzzing-to-communicate-their-sexual/)

[Carla H Krueger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carla-h-krueger/)

[Browse all 33,155 Humor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“How Low am I, thou painted Maypole? Speak: How Low am I? I am not yet so Low But that my Nails can reach unto thine Eyes”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Shakespeare"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-speak-how-low-am-i-i-am-not-yet-so/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Humor"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-speak-how-low-am-i-i-am-not-yet-so/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/william-shakespeare-4_humor_how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-speak_1017373.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/william-shakespeare-4_humor_how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-speak_1017373.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62c/william-shakespeare-4_humor_how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-speak_1017373.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“How Low am I, thou painted Maypole? Speak: How Low am I? I am not yet so Low But that my Nails can reach…” — 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": "“How Low am I, thou painted...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-speak-how-low-am-i-i-am-not-yet-so/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-low-am-i-thou-painted-maypole-speak-how-low-am-i-i-am-not-yet-so/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
