--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: O, how wretched is that poor man that…" description: "\"O, how wretched is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/william-shakespeare-4_favors_o-how-wretched-is-that-poor-man-that-han_2558700.jpg" --- # O, how wretched is that poor man that hangs on princes'… ![“O, how wretched is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/william-shakespeare-4_favors_o-how-wretched-is-that-poor-man-that-han_2558700.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/william-shakespeare-4_favors_o-how-wretched-is-that-poor-man-that-han_2558700.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ae/william-shakespeare-4_favors_o-how-wretched-is-that-poor-man-that-han_2558700.jpg) > “O, how wretched is that poor man that hangs on princes' favors.” [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 person dependent on royal patronage is vulnerable and miserable. **In simple terms:** Relying on powerful patrons makes you weak. Key Takeaway Seek independence over patronage. Themes dependence vulnerability power dynamics Mood cautionary reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political careers - artistic patronage - personal ambition Key Concepts patronage social hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect yourself from reliance on others? - What alternatives exist to secure stability? A Different Perspective Patronage can be fickle and withdrawn. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/favors/) [Hangs Princes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hangs-princes-1585032/) [Lucifer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucifer/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor/) [Poor man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-man/) [Princes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princes/) [Princes Favors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/princes-favors-1585034/) [Wretched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wretched/) [Wretched Poor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wretched-poor-1585033/) ## Related quotes > [O how wretched is that poor man that hangs on princes favors! There is betwixt that smile we would aspire to, that sweet aspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-how-wretched-is-that-poor-man-that-hangs-on-princes-favors-there-is/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Saudis of all sorts recent having to beg princes for favors to secure services that should be a public right”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-elliott-house/saudis-of-all-sorts-recent-having-to-beg-princes-for-favors-to-secure/) [Karen Elliott House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-elliott-house/) > [Wretched are the poor that sell their hopes instead of a filling meal part of a day or a pail... and a tiny existence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariana-fulger/wretched-are-the-poor-that-sell-their-hopes-instead-of-a-filling-meal/) [Mariana Fulger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariana-fulger/) > [Princes have but their titles for their glories, An outward honor for an inward toil; And, for unfelt imaginations, They often feel a world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/princes-have-but-their-titles-for-their-glories-an-outward-honor-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A wretched soul, bruised with adversity, We bid be quiet when we hear it cry. 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Bow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-wretched-state-o-bosom-black-as-death-o-limed-soul-that-struggling/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [You see me here, you gods, a poor old man, As full of grief as age; wretched in both.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/you-see-me-here-you-gods-a-poor-old-man-as-full-of-grief-as-age/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O wretched state! o bosom black as death!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-wretched-state-o-bosom-black-as-death/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [He is the most wretched of men who has never felt adversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/he-is-the-most-wretched-of-men-who-has-never-felt-adversity/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft: Seek not my name: a plague consume you wicked caitiffs left! Here lie I, Timon;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/here-lies-a-wretched-corse-of-wretched-soul-bereft-seek-not-my-name-a/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Spies are the ears and eyes of Princes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/spies-are-the-ears-and-eyes-of-princes/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [Princes are like heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration, but no rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/princes-are-like-heavenly-bodies-which-cause-good-or-evil-times-and/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [“Two princes each one fair." \*Walks toward the princes\* "No get the hair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-gleason/two-princes-each-one-fair-walks-toward-the-princes-no-get-the-hair/) [Joanna Gleason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-gleason/) ## 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 Favors quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [It must be assumed and established as a principle, that the right of private property must be regarded as sacred. Wherefore, the law ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-xiii/it-must-be-assumed-and-established-as-a-principle-that-the-right-of/) [Pope Leo XIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-xiii/) > [Get rid of the idea that God wants you to sacrifice yourself for others, and that you can secure his favor by doing so;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-d-wattles/get-rid-of-the-idea-that-god-wants-you-to-sacrifice-yourself-for/) [Wallace D. Wattles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-d-wattles/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [About one-half of the members of Congress are seekers for office at the nomination of the President. Of the remainder, at least one-half have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-quincy-adams/about-one-half-of-the-members-of-congress-are-seekers-for-office-at/) [John Quincy Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-quincy-adams/) > [A favor is half granted, when graciously refused.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/a-favor-is-half-granted-when-graciously-refused/) [Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/) > [We are thankful for good-will rather than for services, for the motive than the quantum of favor received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/we-are-thankful-for-good-will-rather-than-for-services-for-the-motive/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [It is not difficult to rebuild a life. All we need is to be aware that we have the same strength we had before,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/it-is-not-difficult-to-rebuild-a-life-all-we-need-is-to-be-aware-that/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [True friends don't count favors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/true-friends-don-t-count-favors/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It favors the pain, that would leave me alone / or had the luck of the plot, in this wide world would have us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/it-favors-the-pain-that-would-leave-me-alone-or-had-the-luck-of-the/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Through learning we grow, becoming more than we were before, and in that sense learning is unselfish, because it results in the transformation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/through-learning-we-grow-becoming-more-than-we-were-before-and-in/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [The more a prospective customer clicks on you and your stuff, the easier it is for them to make a buying decision in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/the-more-a-prospective-customer-clicks-on-you-and-your-stuff-the/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [It is a very high mind to which gratitude is not a painful sensation. 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