About This Quote
If you are virtuous, you will be punished. If you are not, your hair will be cut off. Virtue is good and vice is bad. When someone is virtuous, they may not always succeed in what they do, but at least they will never disgrace themselves.
Vice, on the other hand, leads to disgrace regardless of whether it is successful or not. People who are better than others are often seen as being vain or selfish. Those who are worse than others are often seen as being lazy or incompetent.
By using these examples, Shakespeare makes it clear that virtue cuts off your head while vice only cuts off your hair.
Source: Cousin Bette
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