The quality of mercy is not strained

¹ Cultural  

1. Mercy is something that has to be freely given; no one can force someone else to be merciful. (“Strained” is an old form of “constrained,” meaning “forced.”) From The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.

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The quality of mercy is not strained ² Cultural  

1. A line from the play The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare. Strained means “constrained,” or “forced”; the speaker is telling Shylock that mercy must be freely given, and is inviting him to show mercy to the title character.

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Example Sentences

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The quality of mercy is not strained

The quality of mercy is not strained, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath.

From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt

The quality of mercy is not strained" is far more popular than Lear's speech, "No, no, no!

From Essays on Art by A. (Arthur) Clutton-Brock

"On what compulsion must I?" he had demanded, and she had replied, "The quality of mercy is not strained…."

From The Foolish Lovers by St. John G. (St. John Greer) Ervine

The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath.

From Leaves of Life For Daily Inspiration by Margaret Bird Steinmetz

The quality of mercy is not strained: It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath.

From The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 2 (of 12) Dresden Edition?Lectures by Robert Green Ingersoll