Your gentleness shall force more than your force move us to gentleness.
 William Shakespeare, As You Like It (1623). copy citation

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Author William Shakespeare
Source As You Like It
Topic kindness constraint
Date 1623
Language English
Reference
Note Written between 1598 and 1599
Weblink http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1523/1523-h/1523-h.htm

Context

“And know some nurture. But forbear, I say;
He dies that touches any of this fruit Till I and my affairs are answered. JAQUES An you will not be answered with reason, I must die. DUKE SENIOR What would you have? your gentleness shall force
More than your force move us to gentleness. ORLANDO I almost die for food, and let me have it. DUKE SENIOR Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table. ORLANDO Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you:” source

Meaning and analysis

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