Quote by William Shakespeare
Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York, And all the clouds that loured upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths, Our bruised arms hung up for monuments, Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks, Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass I, that am rudely stamped, and want love's majesty To strut before a wanton ambling nymph I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion, Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time Into this breathing world, scarce half made up, And that so lamely and unfashionable That dogs bark at me as I halt by them, Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to spy my shadow in the sun.
Summary
This quote is from Shakespeare's play Richard III, and it is spoken by the character of Richard himself. In this soliloquy, Richard reflects on the transformation of his world. He metaphorically describes how the arrival of the "sun of York" (his brother Edward IV) has turned the winter of their discontent into a glorious summer. Richard expresses how the turmoil and conflict that once surrounded their family have been buried, and now they are enjoying victory and peace. However, Richard, who feels physically and emotionally flawed, admits that he does not have the capacity to embrace this new world. He is unable to enjoy the leisurely activities that others indulge in and instead finds solace in observing his own shadow.
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