All 5 Uses of
discretion
in
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark
- Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe; Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with wisest sorrow think on him, Together with remembrance of ourselves.†
Scene 1.2
- It seems it as proper to our age To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions As it is common for the younger sort To lack discretion.†
Scene 2.1
- 'Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and good discretion.†
Scene 2.2 *
- Be not too tame neither; but let your own discretion be your tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature: for anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own image, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his form and pressure.†
Scene 3.2
- Rashly, And prais'd be rashness for it,—let us know, Our indiscretion sometime serves us well, When our deep plots do fail; and that should teach us There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will.†
Scene 5.2 *
Definitions:
-
(discretion as in: It is within her discretion.) the right to make a decision (and perhaps accompanying good judgment)
-
(discretion as in: embarrassing lack of discretion) behavior that does not attract undesired attention or reveal private information