--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: O world, world! thus is the poor agent…" description: "\"O world, world! thus is the poor agent despised. O traitors and bawds, how earnestly are you set a-work, and how ill requited! Why should our endeavor ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/william-shakespeare-4_agents_o-world-world-thus-is-the-poor-agent-des_2816040.jpg" --- # O world, world! thus is the poor agent despised. O… ![“O world, world! thus is the poor agent despised. O traitors and bawds, how earnestly are you set a-work, and how ill requited! Why should our endeavor be so loved, and the performance so loathed?” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/william-shakespeare-4_agents_o-world-world-thus-is-the-poor-agent-des_2816040.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/william-shakespeare-4_agents_o-world-world-thus-is-the-poor-agent-des_2816040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0eb/william-shakespeare-4_agents_o-world-world-thus-is-the-poor-agent-des_2816040.jpg) > “O world, world! thus is the poor agent despised. O traitors and bawds, how earnestly are you set a-work, and how ill requited! Why should our endeavor be so loved, and the performance so loathed?” [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 laments being despised and unappreciated, questioning why effort is met with scorn. **In simple terms:** Effort feels unreciprocated. Key Takeaway Seek appreciation. Themes society recognition effort Mood melancholic reflective Type dramatic poetic When to use this quote - workplace - artistic pursuits - personal relationships Key Concepts despise traitors performance Questions to Reflect On - Why do we crave approval? - How to stay motivated despite scorn? A Different Perspective Recognition may be fleeting. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Endeavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/endeavor/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Performances](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performances/) [Traitor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traitor/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Enjoy'd no sooner but despised straight, Past reason hunted, and no sooner had Past reason hated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/enjoy-d-no-sooner-but-despised-straight-past-reason-hunted-and-no/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Grace me no grace, nor uncle me no uncle; I am no traitor's uncle, and that word "grace" In an ungracious mouth is but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/grace-me-no-grace-nor-uncle-me-no-uncle-i-am-no-traitor-s-uncle-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An arrant traitor as any is in the universal world, or in France, or in England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/an-arrant-traitor-as-any-is-in-the-universal-world-or-in-france-or-in/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Men's vows are women's traitors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/men-s-vows-are-women-s-traitors/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [ROSS You must have patience, madam. 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