Quote by William Shakespeare

This the curse of service: Preferment goes by letter and affection, and not by old gradation, where each second stood heir to the first.

This the curse of service: Preferment goes by letter and aff

Summary

This quote highlights the frustration of the speaker towards a system of preferment that prioritizes personal connections and favors over merit and seniority. The traditional order of promotion based on a person's position in line (gradation) has been replaced by a system influenced by favoritism (affection) and written recommendations (letter). The curse of service emphasizes how this deviation from the old ways of succession undermines the fairness and transparency in advancement, possibly resulting in less qualified individuals attaining prestigious positions.

Topics

Affection

By William Shakespeare

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