--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How oft the sight of means to do ill…" description: "\"How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done!\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/william-shakespeare-4_deeds_how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-dee_7672.jpg" --- # How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds… ![“How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done!” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/william-shakespeare-4_deeds_how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-dee_7672.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/william-shakespeare-4_deeds_how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-dee_7672.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/william-shakespeare-4_deeds_how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-dee_7672.jpg) > “How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done!” [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. Observing tools or means for wrongdoing can inspire or facilitate immoral actions. **In simple terms:** Seeing means can trigger bad deeds. Key Takeaway Availability of means can lead to misuse. Themes psychology of temptation moral hazard environmental influence behavioral triggers ethical decision-making Mood cautious reflective concerned Type proverbial cautionary philosophical When to use this quote - planning a crime - justifying unethical behavior - peer pressure scenarios - resource allocation decisions Key Concepts means availability moral agency social cues risk perception Practical Applications - crime prevention strategies - ethical training programs Questions to Reflect On - How does access to resources shape moral choices? - What safeguards can limit misuse of means? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) ## Related quotes > [Ill deeds are doubled with an evil word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ill-deeds-are-doubled-with-an-evil-word/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ill deeds is doubled with an evil word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ill-deeds-is-doubled-with-an-evil-word/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I loathe cheese, it makes me ill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-baker/i-loathe-cheese-it-makes-me-ill/) [Colin Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-baker/) > [A vitamin is a substance that makes you ill if you don't eat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-szent-gyorgyi/a-vitamin-is-a-substance-that-makes-you-ill-if-you-don-t-eat-it/) [Albert Szent-Gyorgyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-szent-gyorgyi/) > [Things on the whole are faster in America; people don't stand for election, they run for office. If a person says he's sick, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-mitford/things-on-the-whole-are-faster-in-america-people-don-t-stand-for/) [Jessica Mitford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-mitford/) > [She was a do-gooder, which means that all the ill she did, she did without realizing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/she-was-a-do-gooder-which-means-that-all-the-ill-she-did-she-did/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [Who doth right deeds Is twice born, and who doeth ill deeds vile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-arnold/who-doth-right-deeds-is-twice-born-and-who-doeth-ill-deeds-vile/) [Edwin Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-arnold/) > [A substance that makes you ill if you don't eat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-szent-gyorgyi/a-substance-that-makes-you-ill-if-you-don-t-eat-it/) [Albert Szent-Gyorgyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-szent-gyorgyi/) > [It is no judgement of a thing outside yourself to say it makes you ill. 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It ages you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-deol/not-working-makes-you-ill-sad-depressed-it-ages-you/) [Bobby Deol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-deol/) > [She said she loves me , now she makes me ill , I want to pee coz love Dont pay the Bill...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avinash-solanki/she-said-she-loves-me-now-she-makes-me-ill-i-want-to-pee-coz-love/) Avinash Solanki > [Tis a lucky day, boy, and we'll do good deeds on't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/tis-a-lucky-day-boy-and-we-ll-do-good-deeds-on-t/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Words pay no debts, give her deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/words-pay-no-debts-give-her-deeds/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Talking isn't doing. It is a kind of good deed to say well; and yet words are not deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/talking-isn-t-doing-it-is-a-kind-of-good-deed-to-say-well-and-yet/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Is this the generation of love? Hot blood, hot thoughts and hot deeds? Why, they are vipers. Is love a generation of vipers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-this-the-generation-of-love-hot-blood-hot-thoughts-and-hot-deeds/) [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 Deeds quotes > [If ever I did a man any goodof course it was something exceptional and insignificant compared with the good or evil which I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/if-ever-i-did-a-man-any-goodof-course-it-was-something-exceptional/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [When Allah puts barakah (His blessings) in something, it will come beyond your expectations- never underestimate the power of one good deed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/when-allah-puts-barakah-his-blessings-in-something-it-will-come/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/) Donald P. Ryan > [When deeds speak, words are nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-joseph-proudhon/when-deeds-speak-words-are-nothing/) [Pierre-Joseph Proudhon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-joseph-proudhon/) > [Somehow, what's in our hearts, good or bad is eventually translated into words and deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/somehow-what-s-in-our-hearts-good-or-bad-is-eventually-translated/) [Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/) > [Honest people don't hide their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-bronte/honest-people-don-t-hide-their-deeds/) [Emily Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-bronte/) > [Mechanical instruments, potentially a vehicle of rational human purposes, are scarcely a blessing when they enable the gossip of the village idiot and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/mechanical-instruments-potentially-a-vehicle-of-rational-human/) [Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/) > [Tis e'er the wont of simple folk to prize the deed and o'erlook the motive, and of learned folk to discount the deed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barth/tis-e-er-the-wont-of-simple-folk-to-prize-the-deed-and-o-erlook-the/) [John Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barth/) > [A nation of character is filled with citizens who gradually build lives based on the living awareness that their deeds are judged by eyes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/a-nation-of-character-is-filled-with-citizens-who-gradually-build/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-rabelais/time-which-wears-down-and-diminishes-all-things-augments-and/) [Francois Rabelais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-rabelais/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [The final estimate of men shows that history cares not an iota for the rank or title a man has borne, or the office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-oswald-sanders/the-final-estimate-of-men-shows-that-history-cares-not-an-iota-for/) [J. Oswald Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-oswald-sanders/) > [The World's a Printing-House, our words, our thoughts, Our deeds, are characters of several sizes. Each soul is a Compos'tor, of whose faults The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/the-world-s-a-printing-house-our-words-our-thoughts-our-deeds-are/) [Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/) > [Don't listen to their words, fix your attention on their deeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/don-t-listen-to-their-words-fix-your-attention-on-their-deeds/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) [Browse all 2,029 Deeds quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeds/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-deeds-makes-ill-deeds-done/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deeds" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-deeds-makes-ill-deeds-done/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/william-shakespeare-4_deeds_how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-dee_7672.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/william-shakespeare-4_deeds_how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-dee_7672.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ec/william-shakespeare-4_deeds_how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-dee_7672.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds makes ill deeds done!” — 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 oft the sight of means...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-deeds-makes-ill-deeds-done/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/how-oft-the-sight-of-means-to-do-ill-deeds-makes-ill-deeds-done/#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 } } ] } ```