---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If we shadows have offended, Think but…"
description: "\"If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/william-shakespeare-4_dream_if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-th_604550.jpg"
---

#  If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is…

![“If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: If you pardon, we will mend: And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck…” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/william-shakespeare-4_dream_if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-th_604550.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/william-shakespeare-4_dream_if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-th_604550.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/william-shakespeare-4_dream_if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-th_604550.jpg)

> “If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: If you pardon, we will mend: And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call; So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends.”

[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.

The speaker asks for forgiveness and promises to repair any harm caused, urging acceptance and friendship.

**In simple terms:** Ask for forgiveness and offer to make things right.

Key Takeaway

Seek reconciliation and extend goodwill.

Themes

forgiveness reconciliation humility

Mood

reflective hopeful

Type

dramatic apologetic

When to use this quote

- theater performance
- personal conflict resolution
- group disagreements
- misunderstandings

Key Concepts

Elizabethan drama social harmony

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you do to truly mend a broken trust?
- How can forgiveness be balanced with accountability?

A Different Perspective

Apology may not erase all damage; trust must be rebuilt.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Good night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-night/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Liars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liars/) [Luck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/luck/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Pardon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pardon/) [Robins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robins/) [Scapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scapes/) [Serpent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serpent/) [Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shadow/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/)

## Related quotes

> [If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumber'd here While these visions did appear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-this-and-all-is-mended-that-you-2/)

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

> [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/)

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

> [Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/some-innocents-scape-not-the-thunderbolt/)

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

> [No might nor greatness in mortality Can censure 'scape; back- wounding calumny The whitest virtue strikes. What king so strong Can tie the gall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/no-might-nor-greatness-in-mortality-can-censure-scape-back-wounding/)

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

> [I desire you in friendship, and I will one way or other make you amends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-desire-you-in-friendship-and-i-will-one-way-or-other-make-you-amends/)

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

> [Great sermon helped me to reflect on scape goats, forgiveness, revenge and the messiness of community. .. where I referenced this sermon. Thanks! Keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-peterson/great-sermon-helped-me-to-reflect-on-scape-goats-forgiveness-revenge/)

[Bill Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-peterson/)

> [What can 'scape the eye Of God, all-seeing, or deceive His heart. Omniscient!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/what-can-scape-the-eye-of-god-all-seeing-or-deceive-his-heart/)

[John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/)

> [Rather do what is nothing to the purpose than be idle; that the devil may find thee doing. The bird that sits is easily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-quarles/rather-do-what-is-nothing-to-the-purpose-than-be-idle-that-the-devil/)

[Francis Quarles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-quarles/)

> [You pick up a camera because something has been revealed to you in the landscape or in the human-scape. And you have no choice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-henson/you-pick-up-a-camera-because-something-has-been-revealed-to-you-in/)

[Bill Henson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-henson/)

> [Reading keeps me sane. Growing up, it was my scape, my alternative; it provided both rebellion and peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/reading-keeps-me-sane-growing-up-it-was-my-scape-my-alternative-it/)

[Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/)

> [O Time the fatal wrack of mortal things, That draws oblivion's curtains over kings; Their sumptuous monuments, men know them not, Their names without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bradstreet/o-time-the-fatal-wrack-of-mortal-things-that-draws-oblivion-s/)

[Anne Bradstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bradstreet/)

> [Manly natural religion - it is not joining the Church; it is not to believe in a creed, Hebrew, Protestant, Catholic, Trinitarian, Unitarian, Nothingarian.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-parker/manly-natural-religion-it-is-not-joining-the-church-it-is-not-to/)

[Theodore Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-parker/)

> [And to 'scape stormy days, I choose an everlasting night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-donne/and-to-scape-stormy-days-i-choose-an-everlasting-night/)

[John Donne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-donne/)

> [I won't deny the polemical elements in my work, but they are less in the service of attempting to reform human behavior than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/i-won-t-deny-the-polemical-elements-in-my-work-but-they-are-less-in/)

[James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/)

> [My aim is to reflect the actual human-scape, a little bit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-mahoney/my-aim-is-to-reflect-the-actual-human-scape-a-little-bit/)

[Victoria Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-mahoney/)

## 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 Dream quotes

> [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/)

[Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/)

> [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/)

[John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/)

[Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/)

> [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/)

[Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/)

> [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/)

[Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/)

> [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/)

[Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/)

> [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/)

[Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/)

> [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/)

[Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/)

> [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. Lecturing to children is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/i-have-long-felt-that-the-way-to-keep-children-out-of-trouble-is-to/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/)

[Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/)

> [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/)

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

> [“His dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/his-dream-must-have-seemed-so-close-that-he-could-hardly-fail-to/)

[F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/)

[Browse all 26,527 Dream quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend: If you pardon, we will mend: And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have unearned luck Now to 'scape the serpent's tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call; So, good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Shakespeare"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-this-and-all-is-mended-that-you/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dream"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-this-and-all-is-mended-that-you/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/william-shakespeare-4_dream_if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-th_604550.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/william-shakespeare-4_dream_if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-th_604550.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/085/william-shakespeare-4_dream_if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-th_604550.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended, That you have but slumbered here While these…” — 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": "If we shadows have offended, Think...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-this-and-all-is-mended-that-you/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-we-shadows-have-offended-think-but-this-and-all-is-mended-that-you/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
