What is the meaning of the quote we know what we are but know not what we may be?

What is the meaning of the quote we know what we are but know not what we may be?

It is by William Shakespeare

Explanation:

Ophelia has gone mad, and Claudius asks her how she is doing. Part of her response is the quote above—"we know what we are, but know not what we may be"— which means we (including her) know how we are now, but there is no telling what will happen to us in the future.

  • What is the meaning of the quote we know what we are but know not what we may be?

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What is the meaning of the quote we know what we are but know not what we may be?

“ we know what we are, but know not what we may be. ” William Shakespeare, Hamlet (1623). copy citation

Context

“[Sings.]
Larded all with sweet flowers; Which bewept to the grave did go With true-love showers. King. How do you, pretty lady? OPHELIA. Well, God dild you! They say the owl was a baker's daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. God be at your table!
King. Conceit upon her father. OPHELIA. Pray you, let's have no words of this; but when they ask you what it means, say you this: [Sings.]
Tomorrow is Saint Valentine's day,” source

Meaning and analysis

Kwize Master This sentence is spoken by Ophelia as she is disoriented by Hamlet's attitude and finds herself in a fragile state of mind. She states that if we can understand what we are in the present moment, it is not possible to anticipate the future and know what we will become.

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Hello!

I've been trying to get into Shakespeare, but am totally new to it. Suffice it to say I know there's tons of layers, symbolism, etc.

I really love Ophelia's line from Hamlet, "(Lord) we know what we are, but not what we may be" for personal reasons. I've searched the sources of wisdom of Google and Quora, and those return answers that it's straightforward/neutral... is my understanding correct that it could be interpreted either positively or negatively? Or is it mostly negative/foreboding?

Thank you for looking!

Meaning of We know what we are, but know not what we may be Quote by William Shakespeare.

What is the meaning of the quote we know what we are but know not what we may be?

What is the meaning of “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

William Shakespeare gave this quotation in his very famous play Hamlet. It is one of the finest quotes that have helped many in finding the meaning of life and dealing with the uncertainties that future holds. It beautifully explains that although today, we know who we are and what we have but we don’t know the future. We don’t know what the future holds and how it will change us from what we are now. We also don’t know what we will be having or not having with us.

We are what we are due to our experiences in the past and what have we learned from it. But we don’t know what experiences the future might throw on us. This quotation is so simple and yet so powerful. We might easily get too involved in the problems of present that we often oversee the future.

September 4, 2020 · 5:08 pm

What is the meaning of the quote we know what we are but know not what we may be?

If we allow ourselves to be contained by negative thought, we will never achieve our fullest potential. Shakespeare is right to say this in the sense that we constantly struggle with selling ourselves short. Don’t get stuck in your past. Where you are now, is not where you will always be.

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Who said we know what we are but not what we may be?

William Shakespeare Quotes We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

Who said it what exactly is he she talking about and what might it mean ?: The play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king?

But the point is that the play seems to have gotten them riled up enough to actually move. So when Hamlet tells us "the play's the thing wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king," he's saying that Claudius' guilty conscience will shine through when he's watching the play that Hamlet's arranged. It's literal.

What does Helena mean when she says love looks not with the eyes but with the mind?

“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, and therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” (A Midsummer Night's Dream) This means that it shouldn't matter what a person looks like, you love them for their personality and what's inside.

What Does Nothing will come of nothing mean?

You will gain nothing if you invest nothing. This saying is spoken by the title character in the play King Lear, by William Shakespeare. King Lear is telling his daughter Cordelia that she will gain no favors from him if she does not make elaborate speeches saying she loves him.