Hamlet's character is the prevalence of the abstracting and generalizing habit over the practical. He does not want courage, skill, will, or opportunity; but every incident sets him thinking; and it is curious, and at the same time strictly natural, that Hamlet, who all the play seems reason itself, should he impelled, at last, by mere accident to effect his object. I have a smack of Hamlet myself, if I may say so.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Hamlet thinks too much and overanalyzes instead of acting, which ultimately leads to his fate by accident. The author identifies with this tendency to overthink.
- In plain terms
- Hamlet thinks too much instead of acting and ends up stuck.
- What can you take from it?
- Overthinking can paralyze action and lead to unintended outcomes.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does thinking become harmful?
- How do you balance thought and action?
Another view
Overthinking is not always negative; it can prevent mistakes.
More from Samuel Taylor Coleridge
The Earth with its scarred face is the symbol of the Past; the Air and Heaven, of Futurity.
Permalink to quote #127 I wish our clever young poets would remember my homely definitions of prose and poetry; that is, prose = words in their best order; poetry = the best words in …
Permalink to quote #129 To see him act, is like reading Shakespeare by flashes of lightning.
Permalink to quote #126
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