“What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty!”William Shakespeare · Hamlet · 1601 · Actul II, Scena 2
Humanity is a masterpiece of reason, talent, and power, an almost divine work of art.
Shakespeare expresses wonder at human potential: noble reason, infinite faculty, expressive form, and angel-like action. He describes not actual man but the species' capacity for excellence. It's a praise of what we can become when we use the gifts of mind and body—an artist creating, a thinker discovering, a leader inspiring.
Why it matters In an age of cynicism and self-deprecation, this perspective reminds you of your dignity and capacity for great things.