---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Within the hollow crown That rounds the…"
description: "\"Within the hollow crown That rounds the mortal temples of a king Keeps Death his court.\" — William Shakespeare"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/william-shakespeare-4_court_within-the-hollow-crown-that-rounds-the_653184.jpg"
---

#  Within the hollow crown That rounds the mortal temples of…

![“Within the hollow crown That rounds the mortal temples of a king Keeps Death his court.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/william-shakespeare-4_court_within-the-hollow-crown-that-rounds-the_653184.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/william-shakespeare-4_court_within-the-hollow-crown-that-rounds-the_653184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/william-shakespeare-4_court_within-the-hollow-crown-that-rounds-the_653184.jpg)

> “Within the hollow crown That rounds the mortal temples of a king Keeps Death his court.”

[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 metaphor describing death as a ruler’s court surrounding the king’s mortal realm.

**In simple terms:** Death surrounds the king like a crown.

Key Takeaway

Recognize mortality’s inevitability.

Themes

mortality power kingdom

Mood

somber reflective

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- royal ceremonies
- historical reflections
- philosophical discourse

Key Concepts

impermanence authority symbolism

Questions to Reflect On

- How does this image affect your view of power?
- What does the “court” symbolize?

A Different Perspective

May be interpreted as fatalistic.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kings/) [Rulers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rulers/) [Temples](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temples/)

## Related quotes

> [The seasons alter: hoary-headed frosts Fall in the fresh lap of the crimson rose, And on old Hiems' thin and icy crown An odorous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-seasons-alter-hoary-headed-frosts-fall-in-the-fresh-lap-of-the-2/)

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

> [. . . from this moment The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand. And even now, To crown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/from-this-moment-the-very-firstlings-of-my-heart-shall-be-the/)

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

> [The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-quality-of-mercy-is-not-strain-d-it-droppeth-as-the-gentle-rain/)

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

> [My crown is in my heart, not on my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-crown-is-in-my-heart-not-on-my-head/)

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

> [ in that small \[time\] most greatly lived this star of England: Fortune made his sword, By which the world's best garden he achiev'd And… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/in-that-small-time-most-greatly-lived-this-star-of-england-fortune/)

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

> [I'll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall; I'll slay more gazers than the basalisks; I'll play the orator as well as Nestor, Decieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-ll-drown-more-sailors-than-the-mermaid-shall-i-ll-slay-more-gazers/)

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

> [Virtue preserv'd from fell destruction's blast, Led on by heaven, and crown'd with joy at last.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/virtue-preserv-d-from-fell-destruction-s-blast-led-on-by-heaven-and/)

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

> [And fearless minds climb soonest unto crowns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/and-fearless-minds-climb-soonest-unto-crowns/)

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

> [What win I, if I gain the thing I seek? A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy. Who buys a minute's mirth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/what-win-i-if-i-gain-the-thing-i-seek-a-dream-a-breath-a-froth-of/)

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

> [Away, you trifler! Love! I love thee not, I care not for thee, Kate: this is no world To play with mammets and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/away-you-trifler-love-i-love-thee-not-i-care-not-for-thee-kate-this/)

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

> [The crown o' the earth doth melt. My lord! O, wither'd is the garland of the war, The soldier's pole is fall'n: young boys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/the-crown-o-the-earth-doth-melt-my-lord-o-wither-d-is-the-garland-of/)

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

> [My crown is in my heart, not on my head; not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, nor to be seen: my crown is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-crown-is-in-my-heart-not-on-my-head-not-decked-with-diamonds-and/)

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

> [My featherbed is deep and soft, and there I’ll lay you down, I’ll dress you all in yellow silk and on your head a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-featherbed-is-deep-and-soft-and-there-i-ll-lay-you-down-i-ll-dress/)

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

> [When I became Miss World, I couldn't believe I had won it. I used to sleep with my crown because I was scared someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/when-i-became-miss-world-i-couldn-t-believe-i-had-won-it-i-used-to/)

[Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/)

> [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/)

[Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/)

## 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 Court quotes

> [Long before the 2016 presidential campaign, confidential sources had alerted me to longstanding misuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court system and the erosion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyl-attkisson/long-before-the-2016-presidential-campaign-confidential-sources-had/)

[Sharyl Attkisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyl-attkisson/)

> [I have always worked really hard off the court. I think it's helped me play more consistently on the tour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-draper/i-have-always-worked-really-hard-off-the-court-i-think-it-s-helped-me/)

[Jack Draper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-draper/)

> [The human element should be the two players on the court, not the officials. The best officials are the ones you never notice. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-scott/the-human-element-should-be-the-two-players-on-the-court-not-the/)

Gene Scott

> [They will find somebody younger, somebody funnier, somebody more engaged. As long as the court genre is viable, people are going to be looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judy-sheindlin/they-will-find-somebody-younger-somebody-funnier-somebody-more/)

[Judy Sheindlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judy-sheindlin/)

> [A federal court has ruled that the U.S. Postal Service must reduce its stamp prices. The change in stamp prices is expected to affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/a-federal-court-has-ruled-that-the-u-s-postal-service-must-reduce-its/)

[Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/)

> [The dog is guided by kindly instinct to the man or woman whose heart is open to his advances. The cat often leaves the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnes-repplier/the-dog-is-guided-by-kindly-instinct-to-the-man-or-woman-whose-heart/)

[Agnes Repplier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnes-repplier/)

> [What I do know is I'm going to give absolute 100 percent effort any time I'm on the court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-ariza/what-i-do-know-is-i-m-going-to-give-absolute-100-percent-effort-any/)

[Trevor Ariza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-ariza/)

> [...As the disparity between the rich and the poor grows, the fight to corner resources is intensifying. To push through their "sweetheart deals," to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/as-the-disparity-between-the-rich-and-the-poor-grows-the-fight-to/)

[Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/)

> [In a recent decision of the Supreme Court, not made, however, by the full court, and concurred in by only four justices, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bates-clark/in-a-recent-decision-of-the-supreme-court-not-made-however-by-the/)

[John Bates Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bates-clark/)

> [I try to be the clown and court jester and make people laugh. At the same time, you have people in the hospital who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-try-to-be-the-clown-and-court-jester-and-make-people-laugh-at-the/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [When I went to law school, which after all was back in the dark ages, we never looked beyond our borders for precedents. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-day-o-connor/when-i-went-to-law-school-which-after-all-was-back-in-the-dark-ages/)

[Sandra Day O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-day-o-connor/)

> [What's going on in my life, I never bring it to the basketball court.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemba-walker/what-s-going-on-in-my-life-i-never-bring-it-to-the-basketball-court/)

[Kemba Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemba-walker/)

> [One or two years ago, I didn't know who I was on court and I used to swear a lot. But now I've learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-federer/one-or-two-years-ago-i-didn-t-know-who-i-was-on-court-and-i-used-to/)

[Roger Federer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-federer/)

> [Off the court, I tend to stick to the classics, but I like to have fun with color and accessories. I'm from Spain, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/off-the-court-i-tend-to-stick-to-the-classics-but-i-like-to-have-fun/)

[Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/)

> [There was a man named Robert Dear who in court said he was a warrior for the babies, whose ex-wife talked about his Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/there-was-a-man-named-robert-dear-who-in-court-said-he-was-a-warrior/)

[Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/)

[Browse all 4,024 Court quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Within the hollow crown That rounds the mortal temples of a king Keeps Death his court.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Shakespeare"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/within-the-hollow-crown-that-rounds-the-mortal-temples-of-a-king/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Court"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/within-the-hollow-crown-that-rounds-the-mortal-temples-of-a-king/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/william-shakespeare-4_court_within-the-hollow-crown-that-rounds-the_653184.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/william-shakespeare-4_court_within-the-hollow-crown-that-rounds-the_653184.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f23/william-shakespeare-4_court_within-the-hollow-crown-that-rounds-the_653184.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Within the hollow crown That rounds the mortal temples of a king Keeps Death his court.” — 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": "Within the hollow crown That rounds...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/within-the-hollow-crown-that-rounds-the-mortal-temples-of-a-king/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/within-the-hollow-crown-that-rounds-the-mortal-temples-of-a-king/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
