A lively and lasting sense of filial duty is more effectually impressed on the mind of a son or daughter by reading King Lear, than by all the dry volumes of ethics, and divinity, that ever were written.

Summary

This quote suggests that the moral lesson of having a strong sense of loyalty and duty towards one's parents is better communicated through the tragedy of King Lear than through any theoretical or scholarly teachings on ethics and theology. It implies that witnessing the consequences of a lack of filial duty in a literary work has a greater impact on one's understanding and appreciation of this virtue than mere intellectual discourses can provide. The quote highlights the power of literature in shaping moral values and provoking introspection.

Topics