--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Men must learn now with pity to dispense…" description: "\"Men must learn now with pity to dispense; For policy sits above conscience.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/william-shakespeare-4_conscience_men-must-learn-now-with-pity-to-dispense_1135526.jpg" --- # Men must learn now with pity to dispense; For policy sits… ![“Men must learn now with pity to dispense; For policy sits above conscience.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/william-shakespeare-4_conscience_men-must-learn-now-with-pity-to-dispense_1135526.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/william-shakespeare-4_conscience_men-must-learn-now-with-pity-to-dispense_1135526.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/william-shakespeare-4_conscience_men-must-learn-now-with-pity-to-dispense_1135526.jpg) > “Men must learn now with pity to dispense; For policy sits above conscience.” [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. Political decisions often ignore moral conscience, treating compassion as secondary to governance. **In simple terms:** Policy can ignore empathy. Key Takeaway Balance duty with compassion. Themes politics ethics leadership Mood reflective serious Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - government policy - ethical debates - leadership decisions Key Concepts Moral philosophy governance Questions to Reflect On - How can leaders integrate empathy into policy? - What risks arise when conscience is sidelined? A Different Perspective Compassion may be seen as weakness in power. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Learn Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-pity-2114315/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Learn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-learn/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pity Dispense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-dispense-3140586/) [Policy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy/) [Policy Sits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/policy-sits-1493231/) [Sits Conscience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sits-conscience-1493232/) ## Related quotes > [Policy sits above conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/policy-sits-above-conscience/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Perchance that I might learn what pity is, That I might laugh at erring men no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/perchance-that-i-might-learn-what-pity-is-that-i-might-laugh-at/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [Not being untutored in suffering, I learn to pity those in affliction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil/not-being-untutored-in-suffering-i-learn-to-pity-those-in-affliction/) [Virgil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil/) > [They never learn. Such a pity. -Lord Voldemort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-never-learn-such-a-pity-lord-voldemort/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I learn to pity woes so like my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/i-learn-to-pity-woes-so-like-my-own/) [John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/) > [We need to suffer, that we may learn to pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-elizabeth-landon/we-need-to-suffer-that-we-may-learn-to-pity/) [Letitia Elizabeth Landon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-elizabeth-landon/) > [Is there no pity sitting in the clouds That sees into the bottom of my grief? O sweet my mother, cast me not away!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/is-there-no-pity-sitting-in-the-clouds-that-sees-into-the-bottom-of/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/tear-falling-pity-dwells-not-in-this-eye/) [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/) > [Milk-livered man, That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs; Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning Thine honor from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/milk-livered-man-that-bear-st-a-cheek-for-blows-a-head-for-wrongs-who/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity. But I know none, and therefore am no beast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/no-beast-so-fierce-but-knows-some-touch-of-pity-but-i-know-none-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Uncertain way of gain. But I am in So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin. Tear-falling pity dwells not in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/uncertain-way-of-gain-but-i-am-in-so-far-in-blood-that-sin-will-pluck/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Soft pity enters an iron gate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/soft-pity-enters-an-iron-gate/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [But miserable most, to love unloved? This you should pity rather than despise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/but-miserable-most-to-love-unloved-this-you-should-pity-rather-than/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/all-men-make-mistakes-but-only-wise-men-learn-from-their-mistakes/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) ## 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 Conscience quotes > [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [“Knowledge without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabelaise/knowledge-without-conscience-is-but-the-ruin-of-the-soul/) [Rabelaise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabelaise/) > [Writing adds up to the conscience of our times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-firrell/writing-adds-up-to-the-conscience-of-our-times/) [Martin Firrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-firrell/) > [My conscience is really active. So I feel bad about spending excess amount of money on things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/syd/my-conscience-is-really-active-so-i-feel-bad-about-spending-excess/) [Syd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/syd/) > [Let us be thankful for health and competence, and, above all, for a quiet conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/izaak-walton/let-us-be-thankful-for-health-and-competence-and-above-all-for-a/) [Izaak Walton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/izaak-walton/) > [Making money doesn't oblige people to forfeit their honor or their conscience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-de-rothschild/making-money-doesn-t-oblige-people-to-forfeit-their-honor-or-their/) [Guy de Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-de-rothschild/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The God in whose hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luthers; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/the-god-in-whose-hands-are-all-our-days-and-ways-did-cast-into-my/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [My morals are important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-parrish/my-morals-are-important-to-me/) [Hunter Parrish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-parrish/) > [Being tolerant does not mean that I share another ones belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another ones right to believe, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-frankl/being-tolerant-does-not-mean-that-i-share-another-ones-belief-but-it/) [Viktor Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-frankl/) > [Never can true courage dwell with them, Who, playing tricks with conscience, dare not look At their own vices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/never-can-true-courage-dwell-with-them-who-playing-tricks-with/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [In presenting a mathematical argument the great thing is to give the educated reader the chance to catch on at once to the momentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edensor-littlewood/in-presenting-a-mathematical-argument-the-great-thing-is-to-give-the/) [John Edensor Littlewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edensor-littlewood/) > [I've worked with people who are much further to the left than I am and much further to the right than I am. At…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hanks/i-ve-worked-with-people-who-are-much-further-to-the-left-than-i-am/) [Tom Hanks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hanks/) > [If all the world hated you and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved of you and absolved you from guilt, you would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/if-all-the-world-hated-you-and-believed-you-wicked-while-your-own/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [ \[D\]on't grow old. With age comes caution, which is another name for cowardice… Whatever else you do in life, don't cultivate a conscience. Without… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hesketh-pearson/d-on-t-grow-old-with-age-comes-caution-which-is-another-name-for/) [Hesketh Pearson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hesketh-pearson/) [Browse all 3,490 Conscience quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscience/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Men must learn now with pity to dispense; For policy sits above conscience.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/men-must-learn-now-with-pity-to-dispense-for-policy-sits-above/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Conscience" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/men-must-learn-now-with-pity-to-dispense-for-policy-sits-above/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/william-shakespeare-4_conscience_men-must-learn-now-with-pity-to-dispense_1135526.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/william-shakespeare-4_conscience_men-must-learn-now-with-pity-to-dispense_1135526.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c92/william-shakespeare-4_conscience_men-must-learn-now-with-pity-to-dispense_1135526.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Men must learn now with pity to dispense; For policy sits above conscience.” — 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": "Men must learn now with pity...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/men-must-learn-now-with-pity-to-dispense-for-policy-sits-above/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/men-must-learn-now-with-pity-to-dispense-for-policy-sits-above/#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 } } ] } ```