Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.

“Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.” Thus spoke William Shakespeare, the immortal poet of human truth, whose words, though written centuries ago, still breathe like living fire. This simple triad of wisdom — love, trust, and righteousness — holds the essence of a balanced life. It is a guide not only for kings and scholars, but for every soul who walks the earth. Within these few words lies an eternal command: to open the heart without naivety, to walk in kindness without weakness, and to live with justice toward all beings.

The origin of these words comes from Shakespeare’s play All’s Well That Ends Well, spoken by the noble lord Lafeu, a man of discernment and humility. His counsel to a younger generation was not a sermon of perfection, but a map through the complexity of human nature. For Shakespeare knew — as the ancients did — that the world is a tapestry of virtue and deceit, of generosity and betrayal. To navigate it, one must hold both compassion and wisdom close to the heart. Thus, “Love all” becomes not an invitation to blind affection, but to benevolent goodwill — a universal kindness that asks no reward.

To love all is to recognize the shared flame that burns within every human heart. It is to see beyond the divisions of wealth and birth, creed and color, and to understand that all are bound by the same breath of life. Yet such love must be generous, not foolish. The second command, “Trust a few,” reminds us that while love may be given freely, trust must be earned. Trust is the gold of the soul — rare, precious, and vulnerable to theft. It must be granted only to those whose character has been tested in both calm and storm. In this balance lies wisdom: to love without prejudice, yet to trust with discernment.

The third command, “Do wrong to none,” is the crown of the teaching. For what is love without justice, or trust without integrity? To wrong none is not merely to refrain from harm — it is to live so that one’s presence brings peace, not pain, to the world. It is to move through life like the gentle wind — touching all, wounding none. In a world where pride and revenge have toppled empires, Shakespeare’s words remind us that goodness is strength, and that righteousness is the highest art of power.

Let us remember the story of Marcus Aurelius, the philosopher-emperor of Rome. Surrounded by war and deceit, he governed with calm and grace. He loved his people, though he could not trust all who stood beside him. Yet he sought always to “do wrong to none,” even to his enemies. When his generals urged him toward vengeance, he answered, “The best revenge is to be unlike your enemy.” Like Shakespeare, Aurelius understood that greatness is not in conquest, but in character — that love guided by wisdom creates peace more enduring than armies.

And yet, to live by this teaching is no easy task. The heart that loves all will be wounded; the one that trusts few may feel lonely; the soul that strives to do wrong to none will often walk against the tide of the world. But such is the path of those who seek inner peace. For in the end, love returns multiplied, trust strengthens the spirit, and goodness leaves behind an immortal echo. These are the laws not of society, but of eternity.

From this, my friends, let a lesson be carved into the heart: live with open kindness, yet with eyes that see clearly. Be generous in love but prudent in confidence. Let no bitterness, envy, or deceit take root in your actions. When wronged, answer not with vengeance but with virtue, for no darkness can endure before a steadfast light.

Therefore, walk through the world as a guardian of grace. Love all, for compassion is divine. Trust a few, for wisdom protects the soul. Do wrong to none, for justice is the true measure of man. And when your days are done and your deeds are weighed, let it be said of you — as it was of the noblest among humankind — that you lived with courage, loved without hatred, and left the world gentler than you found it.