William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 94 explores the delicate balance between power and restraint, emphasizing the moral virtue of self-control and the dangers of unchecked influence. In this sonnet, Shakespeare delves into the moral integrity of those who possess the power to harm but choose not to, contrasting them with those who act recklessly or immorally. The sonnet’s structure, tone, and thematic elements combine to offer profound reflections on human nature and the role of virtue in the pursuit of excellence.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 94
They that have power to hurt and will do none,
That do not do the thing they most do show,
Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
Unmovèd, cold, and to temptation slow,
They rightly do inherit heaven’s graces
And husband nature’s riches from expense;
They are the lords and owners of their faces,
Others but stewards of their excellence.
The summer’s flower is to the summer sweet,
Though to itself it only live and die;
But if that flower with base infection meet,
The basest weed outbraves his dignity.
For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 94
Sonnet 94 follows the structure of a typical Shakespearean sonnet: 14 lines, divided into three quatrains and a concluding couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABABCDCDEFEFGG, which is characteristic of Shakespeare’s works. The meter is iambic pentameter, lending the poem a rhythmic and flowing quality, though its serious tone and deep themes give it weight.
The tone of Sonnet 94 is one of contemplation and moral reflection. The speaker praises restraint and moral fortitude while condemning those who fail to live up to these ideals. The use of contrast is striking: the virtuous are described as “cold” and “stone-like,” seemingly devoid of passion or desire, while those who act without virtue are compared to “weeds” overtaking a summer flower. There is an implicit judgment here, but it is delivered with a sense of inevitability and resignation, as if Shakespeare is commenting on human nature rather than explicitly condemning it.
Analysis of Sonnet 94
Lines 1–4
“They that have power to hurt and will do none,
That do not do the thing they most do show,
Who, moving others, are themselves as stone,
Unmovèd, cold, and to temptation slow.”
The opening quatrain introduces the central theme of the sonnet: the moral superiority of those who have the power to harm but choose not to. Shakespeare opens with a paradox—those who “have power to hurt and will do none” are the most virtuous, despite the potential for harm. The phrase “do not do the thing they most do show” suggests a contrast between outward appearances and inward restraint. These individuals, although capable of manipulating or causing harm, remain unmoved—“as stone” and “cold.” The use of the word “stone” here evokes an image of emotional and moral fortitude, suggesting that true power lies in the ability to resist temptation and to avoid yielding to base desires. Shakespeare sets up an image of moral purity that stands in stark contrast to those who would allow themselves to be swayed by emotions or desires.
Lines 5–8
“They rightly do inherit heaven’s graces
And husband nature’s riches from expense;
They are the lords and owners of their faces,
Others but stewards of their excellence.”
In these lines, Shakespeare expands on the notion that those who practice self-control “inherit heaven’s graces.” The idea of “husbanding nature’s riches from expense” is an image of stewardship—these individuals safeguard their moral integrity and preserve their inherent virtue rather than spending or wasting it. The metaphor of being the “lords and owners of their faces” elevates them to a higher status, suggesting that they are not simply servants to their emotions or desires, but the true masters of themselves. This reinforces the theme of self-mastery as the ultimate form of power. In contrast, others are described as mere “stewards” of their excellence, implying that they are temporary holders of virtues that do not belong to them by nature. Shakespeare implies that true excellence is internal and cultivated, not merely surface-level or inherited.
Lines 9–12
“The summer’s flower is to the summer sweet,
Though to itself it only live and die;
But if that flower with base infection meet,
The basest weed outbraves his dignity.”
Shakespeare introduces a contrasting image—the fleeting beauty of the summer flower. The flower, in its natural state, is “sweet” and perfect, but its beauty is transitory: it lives and dies by its nature. However, when the flower encounters “base infection,” it is overtaken by the “basest weed,” which symbolizes the corrupting influence of vice. The weed, typically considered inferior, now outshines the flower, surpassing its natural beauty and dignity. This serves as a metaphor for how moral corruption or immoral deeds can overshadow and degrade what was once pure or noble. The “base infection” is a representation of vice, which when allowed to enter, can diminish even the most admirable qualities.
Lines 13–14 (The Couplet)
“For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds;
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.”
The concluding couplet delivers the moral of the sonnet with a sharp and poignant finality. Shakespeare asserts that the “sweetest things,” when corrupted by wrong actions, inevitably turn “sourest.” The lilies, once symbols of purity and grace, now “fester” and emit a far worse smell than the weeds. The idea that the corrupted flower is worse than the weed is a powerful statement about the moral consequences of vice. It highlights the destructive power of indulgence in base actions: even the purest of individuals, if they stray from virtue, become worse than those who never aspired to moral excellence in the first place.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 94 offers a profound reflection on the relationship between power, virtue, and corruption. The sonnet explores the idea that true greatness is not merely the ability to exert power or influence, but the capacity for self-control and restraint. Those who can resist temptation and maintain their integrity are depicted as possessing a higher moral value than those who act without regard for their actions’ consequences. Through the imagery of flowers, weeds, and festering lilies, Shakespeare illustrates the corrupting influence of vice and the moral decay that accompanies the failure to live virtuously. In this sonnet, restraint is celebrated as the ultimate form of moral and personal excellence.
