--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: O, what men dare do! what men may do!…" description: "\"O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do, not knowing what they do.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/william-shakespeare-4_dare_o-what-men-dare-do-what-men-may-do-what_1270486.jpg" --- # O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do… ![“O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do, not knowing what they do.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/william-shakespeare-4_dare_o-what-men-dare-do-what-men-may-do-what_1270486.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/william-shakespeare-4_dare_o-what-men-dare-do-what-men-may-do-what_1270486.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/william-shakespeare-4_dare_o-what-men-dare-do-what-men-may-do-what_1270486.jpg) > “O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do, not knowing what they do.” [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. Men act without fully understanding their motives, leading to unintended consequences. **In simple terms:** People act blindly. Key Takeaway Pause to reflect before acting. Themes motivation ignorance consequence Mood uncertain thoughtful Type cautionary reflective When to use this quote - leadership - personal growth - ethical decisions Key Concepts human nature self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - What drives your daily actions? - How can you gain better self-awareness? A Different Perspective Blind actions can cause harm. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Daily Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daily-knowing-4070620/) [Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dare/) [Dare Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dare-men-4070619/) [Knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowing/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Daily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-daily-1495941/) [Men Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-dare-1087698/) [Not knowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/not-knowing/) ## Related quotes > [“An obstacle which would frighten discreet men is nothing to determined women. They dare what men avoid, and sometimes they achieve an unusual success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gai-mori/an-obstacle-which-would-frighten-discreet-men-is-nothing-to/) [Ōgai Mori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gai-mori/) > [“O you gods, what a number of men eat Timon, and he sees 'em not! It grieves me to see so many dip their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-you-gods-what-a-number-of-men-eat-timon-and-he-sees-em-not-it/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I wonder men dare trust themselves with men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-wonder-men-dare-trust-themselves-with-men/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“O, what men dare do!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-what-men-dare-do/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [That all men would be cowards if they dare, Some men we know have courage to declare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-crabbe/that-all-men-would-be-cowards-if-they-dare-some-men-we-know-have/) [George Crabbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-crabbe/) > [Men do not often dare to avow, even to themselves, the slow progress reason has made in their minds; but they are ready to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/men-do-not-often-dare-to-avow-even-to-themselves-the-slow-progress/) [Nicolas de Caritat, marquis de Condorcet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-de-caritat-marquis-de-condorcet/) > [I am a member of this body. Therefore, sir, I shall neither fawn nor cringe before any party, nor stoop to beg . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-mcneal-turner/i-am-a-member-of-this-body-therefore-sir-i-shall-neither-fawn-nor/) [Henry McNeal Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-mcneal-turner/) > [Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/freedom-has-its-life-in-the-hearts-the-actions-the-spirit-of-men-and/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [Interest has the security, though not the virtue of a principle. As the world goes, it is the surest side; for men daily leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-penn/interest-has-the-security-though-not-the-virtue-of-a-principle-as-the/) [William Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-penn/) > [It cannot be too often or too forcibly brought home to us that the hope of the profession is with the men who do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-osler/it-cannot-be-too-often-or-too-forcibly-brought-home-to-us-that-the/) [William Osler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-osler/) > [There are few men who dare to publish to the world the prayers they make to Almighty God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-few-men-who-dare-to-publish-to-the-world-the-prayers-they/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There is much coldness among men because we do not dare to be as cordial as we really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/there-is-much-coldness-among-men-because-we-do-not-dare-to-be-as/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“Like war, love - all kinds of love - is for men who can take it. If they dare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ensan-case/like-war-love-all-kinds-of-love-is-for-men-who-can-take-it-if-they/) [Ensan Case](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ensan-case/) > [Few men would dare to read their own autobiography if all their deeds were recorded in it; few can look back upon their entire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/few-men-would-dare-to-read-their-own-autobiography-if-all-their-deeds/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God's assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/it-may-seem-strange-that-any-men-should-dare-to-ask-a-just-god-s/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) ## 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 Dare quotes > [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/this-is-no-time-for-ease-and-comfort-it-is-time-to-dare-and-endure/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Life is more complicated than we think, yet far simpler than anyone dares to imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-durrell/life-is-more-complicated-than-we-think-yet-far-simpler-than-anyone/) [Lawrence Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-durrell/) > [I should not dare to call my soul my own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/i-should-not-dare-to-call-my-soul-my-own/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [Nobody calls me a racist when I do redneck jokes. Jeff Foxworthy can do as many 'You might be a redneck jokes' as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-mencia/nobody-calls-me-a-racist-when-i-do-redneck-jokes-jeff-foxworthy-can/) [Carlos Mencia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-mencia/) > [Dare to dream! Never underestimate the Power of Our Dream!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dare-to-dream-never-underestimate-the-power-of-our-dream/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Why stop now? Seduce me, Brian.I dare you." "I've always found it hard to turn aside a dare.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-roberts/why-stop-now-seduce-me-brian-i-dare-you-i-ve-always-found-it-hard-to/) [Nora Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-roberts/) > [This moment in which you experience stillness is every moment. Don't let the mind seduce you into the past or future. Stay in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adyashanti/this-moment-in-which-you-experience-stillness-is-every-moment-don-t/) [Adyashanti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adyashanti/) > [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/) > [I tend to get reactions just by being on screen, because I guess I'm physically queer-coded or something. Especially with 'Star Wars;' I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-tend-to-get-reactions-just-by-being-on-screen-because-i-guess-i-m/) [Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/) > [Who would dare assign to art the sterile function of imitating nature?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/who-would-dare-assign-to-art-the-sterile-function-of-imitating-nature/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God himself sees…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilfred-grenfell/the-privilege-of-prayer-to-me-is-one-of-the-most-cherished/) [Wilfred Grenfell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilfred-grenfell/) > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [I drink, I huff, I strut, look big and stare; And all this I can do, because I dare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-villiers/i-drink-i-huff-i-strut-look-big-and-stare-and-all-this-i-can-do/) [Theresa Villiers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-villiers/) [Browse all 2,415 Dare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dare/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do, not knowing what they do.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William Shakespeare" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-what-men-dare-do-what-men-may-do-what-men-daily-do-not-knowing-what/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Dare" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-what-men-dare-do-what-men-may-do-what-men-daily-do-not-knowing-what/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/william-shakespeare-4_dare_o-what-men-dare-do-what-men-may-do-what_1270486.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/william-shakespeare-4_dare_o-what-men-dare-do-what-men-may-do-what_1270486.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/712/william-shakespeare-4_dare_o-what-men-dare-do-what-men-may-do-what_1270486.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“O, what men dare do! what men may do! what men daily do, not knowing what they do.” — 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": "O, what men dare do! what...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-what-men-dare-do-what-men-may-do-what-men-daily-do-not-knowing-what/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-what-men-dare-do-what-men-may-do-what-men-daily-do-not-knowing-what/#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 } } ] } ```