Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt

Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt

In William Shakespeare's play "Measure for Measure," the character Lucio speaks the famous line, "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt." This quote encapsulates a central theme in the play, as characters grapple with their own doubts and fears, ultimately leading to missed opportunities and lost potential.

Throughout the play, characters such as Isabella, Angelo, and Claudio are all faced with difficult decisions that test their moral compasses. Isabella, a novice nun, is asked to sacrifice her virtue in order to save her brother Claudio from execution. Angelo, the strict deputy of Vienna, is tempted by Isabella's beauty and struggles with his own desires. Claudio, facing death, must confront his own mortality and the consequences of his actions.