The 20 Best Romeo and Juliet Quotes That Apply To Business
William Shakespeare knew how to pack a lot of emotion and sentiments into the plays that he composed. Themes ranged from tragedy to romance and everything in between. In many of his plays, he touched on sound wisdom for those who are in business, whether working for others or for themselves and some of the quotes made in the play Romeo and Juliet actually work very well for the modern business world. Here are the 20 best Romeo and Juliet quotes that apply for business.
20. “Don’t waste your love on somebody, who doesn’t value it.”
Although Shakespeare was discussing the emotion of love, this applies to spending time training or dedicating resources in the company to somebody who doesn’t value your efforts. While everyone is important, some people in the workplace who are not a good fit for the company and who do not appreciate or value your efforts toward them are a good expenditure of your time and resources. Instead, dedicate them to those who value your input and the effort.
19. “Do not swear by the moon, for she changes constantly. then your love would also change.”
The one thing that you can depend on in the business world is the constant of change. This quote refers to making oaths and promises. Things are constantly changing and evolving and in order to maintain relevancy in an ever changing world, it’s important to keep an open point of view. You must change with the times to satisfy the requirements of your customers to hold up under competition. Your love of the old ways of doing business may no longer serve you and it will be time to adopt a new way of thinking and doing business.
18. “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.”
This is sage advice for anyone in business. It’s better to take a few moments and to think things through before you make any big decisions. When you try to move to fast in building a business, you’re likely to encounter some big problems. Examine the situation and look at all of the variables to make sure that you’re following the best possible course of action.
17. “O serpent heart hid with a flowering face!
Just because someone presents a pleasant side of themselves doesn’t mean that they’re genuine or working in your best interest. When it comes to business in a highly competitive setting, you must find out who you can really trust when deals are being made. This is particularly true when the stakes are high. It pays to pay attention to how the person you’re dealing with treats other people and to know their reputation in the business world.
16. “A dammed saint, an honourable villain!”
Not everyone who is hard core in business dealings is a disreputable person. When a manager cuts workers to save the business he or she is doing it for the sake of doing the least amount of harm. Sometimes hard decisions must be made and in many cases, the person making the decisions or carrying them out is seen as a real villain. This isn’t always the case though. If there is honor in the actions taken, it makes sound business sense, and it is ethical, you may be dealing with a great person who had to carry out unpopular tasks to keep the business going.
15. “From ancient grudge break to new mutiny Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.”
How many times have you seen an old grudge surface time and time again in a workplace. Two employees who have it in for another can ruin a lot of otherwise great group efforts and the fighting can stir up hard feelings in others who don’t even have anything to do with the situation. Two warring factions can cause trouble for other workers and they can create a truly miserable environment for everyone. It’s best to park personal feelings outside in the parking lot and not bring them into the workplace. You don’t have to like everyone you work with but bringing up old grudges isn’t helpful for anyone involved.
14. “What’s in a name? that which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.”
When it comes to naming a business, there is a lot in a name. It creates certain emotional responses in those who hear the name. Choosing a business name is an important part of the process for launching a new venture. A name can either attract your target audience to use your services or buy your goods, or it can repel them. You’d better put a little though and research into the name that you settle on.
13. “I defy you, stars.”
Sometimes you just have to strike out on your own and take charge of your own destiny.This is a quote that can apply directly to business for those who are tired of being a slave to the grind and for working to the benefit of large corporations. When they tell you that it cannot be done or that starting a new business is too risky, stand in defiance of this and go for it with gusto. Pursue your dreams and make them happen. Fate will not do the work for you, you must roll up your sleeves and get to the business of making your own destiny.
12. “There’s an old saying that applies to me: you can’t lose a game if you don’t play the game.
You have to do something in order to gain something. This applies to new entrepreneurs who have great ideas but are afraid to step out and take a risk to make their dreams come true. If you don’t throw your hat in the ring and give it a try you will never know what you are capable of. While it’s true that you can’t lose a game if you don’t play, you can’t win the game if you don’t play it either.
11. “What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee.”
This quote is about seriously hard feelings that existed between the Montagues and the Capulets. The feud between the two groups was so intense that it resulted in the death of a family member from each side. It was a waste that was brought on by senseless fighting. In the business world this kind of warring can cause irreparable damage to a company in several ways. It lowers morale of the workers and it can also create distrust with customers who may overhear bickering or disputes.
10. “This day’s black fate on more days doth depend.”
Problems can arise quickly but they are most often the result of issues that remain unresolved for long periods of time. This urges us to ensure that we’re adhering to sound business practices and that we stay on top of operations. Small problems can balloon quickly so it’s best to address them as they happen because we don’t want our business to suffer a day of black fate because of inaction.
9. “O, I am Fortune’s fool!”
There are many entrepreneurs who can relate to this quote. It seems that the winds of fortune sometimes blow in positive circumstances and sometimes they are negative. It’s important to realize that although it may seem this way, it isn’t really the case. In business, when good things happen it is generally because of due diligence and making wise choices. When things go bad, it’s likely because someone has made a mistake. There are times however, when the unforeseen arises, such as the Coronavirus pandemic that forced many businesses to suspend their activities. This is a legitimate occurrence that places business owners at the whims of fate.
8. “‘What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?”
Long hours are often a part of the struggle that entrepreneurs face when trying to establish a new company. The truth is that some days are filled with sadness and worry, particularly when things aren’t going as you had planned. Sometimes you just have to roll up your sleeves and put in the long hours in order to achieve your business goals and get the company into a more stable positioning.
7. “O me what fray was here.”
Does your office environment seem more like a war zone than an efficient office setting? If there are ongoing fights and tensions in a business, the chances are that the tension will hang in the air after harsh word exchanges have ceased. Those who enter the space will no doubt be able to sense the tension. If there are disagreements between co-workers then it is time to hash out your differences or simply agree to disagree and then keep it out of the professional setting. People can usually tell when there is discord and you don’t want your customers or clients to feel uneasy when they come to you to buy goods or to obtain services.
6. “Yet tell me not for I have heard it all.”
This is a caution to be careful with your words. If the boss has been inundated with complaints or a retelling of an event that has taken place, give him or her a break and don’t rush in to add to the drama. There is a time and place to speak and it’s important to learn when to speak and when to hold your peace. In business, learn the verbal cues. If you have something that is important to share then do so, but if your words are just piling on the comments of others and you’re not asked for your opinion, there are times when it is best to refrain from jumping on the band wagon.
5. “Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love.”
This is yet another quote that points to emotion and how it is a driver for our actions and for the outcomes of situations. In the business world, it is never a good idea to act out of negative emotions. It’s best to remain impartial and keep your personal feelings out of business decisions or communications with co-workers or associates.
4. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
There comes a time when a longtime member of a company reaches the age and life stage where retirement is either wanted or required. When it is time to say goodbyes to a beloved member of the team, there may be moments of intense sadness, but this is inevitable at some point. Don’t become so dependent on the expertise of just one person so their departure will leave you in a state of floundering. Value the time that you spend working with that person, but at the same time, diversify your networks and make sure that there is enough cross-training completed to cover that person’s departure without causing down-time in productivity.
3. “For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households’ rancour to pure love.”
It’s always better when everyone gets along. There may be differences of opinion, and not everyone is going to like you. You don’t have to be best friends to work well together towards common goals. If there are hard feelings it’s time to get over it and find common ground for the benefit of the operation and for everyone else’s benefit.
2. “O deadly sin! O rude thankfulness!”
In business, being rude and thankless is the equivalent of a sin. This kind of attitude has no place in business. It can cause customers to go somewhere else to conduct their business.
1. “Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch!”
The final quote that business persons should take into consideration is the recommendation to obey your superiors on the job. If your supervisor tells you to do something, drop your emotional baggage or whatever chip that you may have on your shoulder and do your job. Disobedience on the job can result in disciplinary action and even dismissal.
