Shakespeare on Borrowing to Pay Debt
on Saturday, June 8, 2013William Shakespeare Money Quotation saying in this Henry IV (pt 2) line from Falstaff emphasizing the futility of endlessly borrowing to resolve debt. Falstaff said:
“I can get no remedy against this consumption of the purse: borrowing only lingers and lingers it out, but the disease is incurable” — William Shakespeare
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In this quote, William Shakespeare is using the metaphor of a “consumption of the purse” or spending disease to refer to being in debt or facing financial difficulties. His interpretation is that borrowing money only serves to temporarily prolong the problem but does not cure the underlying fiscal issues.
The message seems to be that taking on more debt through loans is not a real solution and will only draw out the affliction, as the fundamental cause of insufficient funds or excessive spending remains uncured.
Shakespeare suggests that true remedy is needed against the consumption or depletion of one’s purse/finances, rather than superficially delaying the problem through additional borrowing that does not get at the root cause.
Birthday April 23, 1564 – Died April 23, 1616
#TalkLikeShakespeareDay April 22