The Choice

What is life but the choice and conduct of one's keeping between these two poles?

Hector: Mine honour keeps the weather of my fate.

Life every many holds dear, but the dear man

holds honour far more precious dear than life. 

- Troilus and Cressida, V.iii

Falstaff: What is honour? A word. What is in that word honour? What is that honour? Air - a trim reckoning! Who hath it? He that died a Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No. Doth he hear it? No. 'Tis insensible then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? No. Why? Detraction will not suffer it.

- Henry IV Part 2, V.i