I will name you the degrees. The first, the Retort Courteous; the second, the Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish; the fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth, the Countercheck Quarrelsome; the sixth, the Lie with Circumstance; the seventh, the Lie Direct.

Summary

This quote, from William Shakespeare's play "As You Like It," describes the different levels of responding to insults or provocations. Starting with polite and witty replies like the Retort Courteous and the Quip Modest, it progresses to increasingly hostile and confrontational levels such as the Reply Churlish, the Reproof Valiant, and the Countercheck Quarrelsome. The final two degrees, the Lie with Circumstance and the Lie Direct, involve intentionally deceiving or telling direct lies. Overall, this quote illustrates the escalating nature of verbal exchanges and showcases the variety of ways one can respond to confrontation.

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