April 23, 2013 (Tuesday)
“A fool thinks himself to be wise, but a wise man knows himself to be a fool” — William Shakespeare
Today’s date, April 23, is significant when studying William Shakespeare (1564-1594), because he was born on this date and he died on this date. He died on his 52nd birthday.
In many ways, he was an enigmatic creature and much is not known about him. But what is known is so overwhelming that one cannot help but be impressed and amazed. He actually added 3,000 words to the English language. Many quotations from his works are proverbial, and sometimes people quote him, thinking they are quoting from the Bible. Common expressions that he created are: “Heart of gold,” “Good riddance,” “Wild goose chase,” “Naked truth,” “Send him packing,” “Lie low,” and many, many others.
He was equally talented in writing tragedies and comedies. He wrote many Sonnets. Some of his plays are historical. I confess I have not read enough of his writings to even write a blog about him, but this fact alone shows how influential he has been–I’m writing it and you’re reading it and probably neither of us knows as much as we should about him. One historian argues that he is “the most influential figure in human civilization,” but that remark reminds me of sports commentators who tell us we just saw the “greatest” whatever it was. The most we can say about such a comment is that it is totally subjective. Shakespeare’s influence, nevertheless, has been powerful indeed.
Two of my favorite quotations from his works:
IAGO: Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,
Is the immediate jewel of their souls.
Who steals my purse steals trash; ’tis something, nothing;
‘Twas mine, ’tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed.
PORTIA: 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 blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
Good stuff.
Devotional Thought:
Shakespeare’s writings are influential, but different from the Bible. Here is what the Bible says about itself: “.. those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21 NLT). “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12 NLT).