The quality of mercy is not strain'd, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.
In plain words
Kindness falls freely, like soft rain. Nobody has to force it.
Where these words come from
- 95% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
- The Merchant of Venice, Act 4 Scene 1, spoken by Portia (disguised as a lawyer) in the courtroom, urging Shylock toward mercy.
- The Merchant of Venice
- c. 1597 · Portia's courtroom speech asking Shylock to show mercy instead of demanding strict justice
