The Life of Timon of Athens Suffering Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Act.Scene.Line)

Quote #7

TIMON:
Go, suck the subtle blood o' the grape,
Till the high fever seethe your blood to froth,
And so 'scape hanging: trust not the physician;
His antidotes are poison, and he slays
More than you rob. (4.3.431-435)

Man, Timon hates doctors. He tells the thieves that doctors lie more than they rob (which is, apparently, a lot). Timon believes that everyone and everything has turned to poison (it's not clear if he means that literally or not). It doesn't matter to Timon that doctors try to help prevent or treat disease; they are infected with the curse of humanity as well.

Quote #8

FLAVIUS:
Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord?
Full of decay and failing? O monument
And wonder of good deeds evilly bestow'd! (4.3.461-463)

Flavius is taken aback when he first sees his old master. Flavius sees "decay and failing" in Timon, which suggests that Timon may already be dying. Maybe he's even already "dead," which would explain why Flavius has a hard time recognizing his master. Maybe Timon is deliberately forcing himself closer to the grave by crashing in a cave in the woods.

Quote #9

TIMON:
Why, I was writing of my epitaph;
It will be seen to-morrow: my long sickness
Of health and living now begins to mend,
And nothing brings me all things. Go, live still;
Be Alcibiades your plague, you his,
And last so long enough! (5.1.183-188)

Timon's words here have double meaning. First, he wants to rid the world of himself: he says he is like a disease that has caused grief. But he also wants to stop being sick (with pain and anger) himself. Getting rid of the Senators and bringing a sickness upon them and the rest of Athens is just gravy, really. Timon seems to just want to end it all.