Photo via The Hundred Books

“My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!” Hamlet, Act IV Scene 4

This is one of my all-time favourite quotes. I first discovered this sentence my senior year of high school in my British Literature class. For those who did not read Hamlet in high school or at SLU, at this point in the play, Hamlet realizes that he must act on his thoughts in order for his life and his kingdom to move for-ward and succeed.

Let us consider this idea in the context of a college campus. A junior boy, let’s call him John, is tanning on the quad on a warm spring day in Canton (speaking hypothetically, of course). As he looks up from his relaxed bronzing position, John notices the girl who he has had a crush on since the fall of his first year. There have been countless days like this one where John has wanted to reveal his true feelings. Despite liking her for three years, he has said nothing to her.

Let us consider another scenario. A college student, let’s call her Katie, arrives at St. Lawrence and does not participate in any activities, internships, or work opportunities while on campus. She goes to class, mostly, and parties or drinks almost every evening. Maybe she thought about trying out for the soccer team or joining the student council, but she was too scared to go outside of her comfort zone.

The conclusion for these two scenarios is the same: each student does not do what he or she really wants to do. Yes, these students might have stress- or anxiety-related issues that would prevent them from doing these activities.

However, the point that Hamlet makes is that there is no point in thinking about something within your reach over and over again without trying to accomplish it. This leaves people in a rut; the fear of getting hurt or of disappointment clouds their judgement and they do not accomplish what they want to.

If there is one thing Hamlet reminds us, it is this: life is short, and if we think about taking action rather than doing so, nothing gets done. If we, as humans, can, to the best of our ability, combat our fears or anxieties, our thoughts would ideally turn into actions of which we can be proud. So, let your thoughts “be bloody” or be put to the test