--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If there were a sympathy in choice, War…" description: "\"If there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness, did lay siege to it, Making it momentary as a sound, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/william-shakespeare-4_choices_if-there-were-a-sympathy-in-choice-war-d_1961586.jpg" --- # If there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or… ![“If there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness, did lay siege to it, Making it momentary as a sound, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream, Brief as the lightning in the collied night That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!' The jaws…” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/william-shakespeare-4_choices_if-there-were-a-sympathy-in-choice-war-d_1961586.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/william-shakespeare-4_choices_if-there-were-a-sympathy-in-choice-war-d_1961586.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/637/william-shakespeare-4_choices_if-there-were-a-sympathy-in-choice-war-d_1961586.jpg) > “If there were a sympathy in choice, War, death, or sickness, did lay siege to it, Making it momentary as a sound, Swift as a shadow, short as any dream, Brief as the lightning in the collied night That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth, And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!' The jaws of darkness do devour it up; So quick bright things come to confusion.” [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. Life’s fleeting moments are overwhelmed by darkness and confusion, reminding us of mortality and the limits of power. **In simple terms:** Life is short and often chaotic. Key Takeaway Accept impermanence and seek meaning. Themes mortality power impermanence Mood melancholic reflective Type philosophical poetic When to use this quote - grief - illness - personal loss - confronting mortality Key Concepts existentialism human frailty Questions to Reflect On - How do you find purpose amid chaos? - What can you control when faced with inevitable loss? A Different Perspective It may overlook resilience and hope in adversity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) [Darkness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darkness/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/earth/) [Heaven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven/) [Heaven and earth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heaven-and-earth/) [Lightning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lightning/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Sickness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sickness/) [Siege](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/siege/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Sympathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sympathy/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [“Brief as the lightning in the collied night; That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and Earth, And ere a man hath power to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/brief-as-the-lightning-in-the-collied-night-that-in-a-spleen-unfolds/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“O hell! to choose love by another's eyes!" 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