Vol. 08 · Shakespeare ·The Merchant of Venice, Act IV.i ·Portia
"The quality of mercy is not strained."
Not quite the line.
How it's usually quoted
"The quality of mercy is not strained."
What Shakespeare actually wrote
"The quality of mercy is not strain'd, / It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven / Upon the place beneath." Portia — The Merchant of Venice, Act IV.i
Why it matters
Portia's speech is a 20-line argument for clemency. Quoting one line makes it sound aphoristic; in context, it is a legal appeal disguised as poetry.
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