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

See Examples For:

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

A simple sentence is one which contains a single statement, question, or command: for example, "The quality of mercy is not strained;" "What wouldst thou do, old man?"

From An English Grammar by Sewell, James Witt

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

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

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

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

The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth, as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed; It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes,

From Familiar Quotations by Bartlett, John