“We do pray for mercy, and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy.”
- Source
- The Merchant of Venice
- Date
- c. 1596
- Attribution
- Source identified
- Voice / speaker
- Fictional character · Portia
What does this quote mean?
Portia turns the desire to receive mercy into a responsibility to practice it, making forgiveness a consistency test rather than a one-way request.
Where does it come from?
The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1; conclusion of the central argument in Portia’s mercy speech.
Who voices the line?
Fictional character · Portia. Portia concludes the central argument of her mercy speech in The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1.
The source author and the local speaker can be different, especially in fiction, drama, dialogue and poetry.
How should this attribution be read?
This wording is connected with the named source shown above. Translations and editions can vary, so consult the source note when exact wording matters.