| Visitors Now: | |
| Total Visits: | |
| Total Stories: |
| Story Views | |
| Now: | |
| Last Hour: | |
| Last 24 Hours: | |
| Total: | |
(1/2011) The Wisdom Of Shakespeare
Dennis E. Coates
, Ph.D.–
As a graduate student at Duke University in the early 70s, I read most of William Shakespeare’s plays and learned why today he’s considered the greatest poet and playwright of all time. He achieved this reputation based on a body of work written 400 years ago. More has been written about him than any other literary figure in history. His plays are familiar to most people: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth, Hamlet, Othello, and others. These and many more are routinely taught in high school English classes and have been made into movies.
What impresses me most is the timeless wisdom I’ve found in the plays, even though the world has learned so much since Shakespeare’s time. His words, original and memorable, reflect an understanding of people and life. Here are some of my favorites…
William Shakespeare (1564-1616); Photo Credit: Wikipedia, Public Domain
On FORGIVENESS - “The quality of mercy is not strained, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed; it blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”
On HONESTY - “To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one picked out of ten thousand.”
On LOYALTY - “Words are easy, like the wind; faithful friends are hard to find.”
On SELF-AWARENESS – “Of all knowledge the wise and good seek most to know themselves.”
On SELF-ESTEEM – “This above all: to thine own self be true.”
On SPIRITUALITY - “There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamed of in your philosophy.”
Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., is co-founder and CEO of Performance Support Systems, Inc. He is the author of 20/20 Insight Gold, an award-winning, versatile online feedback survey platform, and ProStar, an online learning reinforcement and self-development system. A graduate of West Point, Denny has over 35 years’ experience as a manager and leader. His military assignments focused on training development and personnel management and included service in Vietnam and Germany. He earned his Ph.D. at Duke University and has served on the faculties of the United States Military Academy, the Armed Forces Staff College, the College of William and Mary, and Thomas Nelson Community College. In addition, he was an adjunct lecturer at the Center for Creative Leadership for ten years. Hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies have benefited from his work in assessment, self-awareness, leadership and team development. He is the author of numerous articles, booklets, and manuals in the areas of cognitive style, leadership, management, training, and creativity. You’ll find him online at www.buildingpersonalstrength.com
Copyright © 2006-2011, Basil & Spice. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Basil & Spice. All rights reserved. http://www.basilandspice.com/journal/” target=”_blank”Basil & Spice does not provide professional advice, diagnosis or treatment of any kind — medical, legal, professional, personal. The opinions you read on this site are those of members of the Basil & Spice community, not necessarily those of Basil & Spice.
Source:
