Meaning
Categorised in: 135 Phrases coined by William Shakespeare ·Quotations
This Shakespearian saying expresses the notion that, while we recall well anything done to harm us, we forget quickly the good others do. A modern phrase that expresses a similaridea is Monty Python's "What have the Romans ever done for us?". The characters in that sketch claim that "The Romans have taken everything from us" and offered nothing in return except aqueducts, sanitation, roads, irrigation, medicine, education, wine, public baths and peace.
From Shakespeare’s Henry VIII, 1612:
GRIFFITH:
Noble madam,
Men’s evil manners live in brass; their virtues
We write in water. May it please your highness
To hear me speak his good now?
The line was alluded to on Keats’ tombstone - Here lies one whose name was writ in water.
Historical trend
Source: Google Books Ngrams (1800–2020).