This passage has been often misunderstood. “Without the _illness_” that should attend ambition—“what thou would’st highly thou would’st holily,” does not mean, thou art without the _vices_ which should attend ambition, and, what thou would’st highly—thou would’st in a _holy spirit_. It means, he is without the _courage_ to bear the risk and odium necessary to the successful carrying out of ambitious plans, although he is willing enough to be _guilty_ if he may not _appear_ to be so. “What he would highly,” he would also with an _appearance of holiness_. He loves the _mask_ of virtue, but he loves also the sweets of sin. He has thus far enjoyed the good opinion of the _world_. He cannot bear to throw aside the wreath which he has worn and which flatters his weakness and vanity. It is the _world_ which alone he thinks of. This is his only god. Of the Supreme Being, there is not a word; but of his inclination to assume the moral responsibility there is a distinct acknowledgment: “Would’st not play false And yet _would’st wrongly win_. ‘Thou’d’st have, great Glamis,’ That which cries, ‘_Thus thou must do if thou have it!_’ And that which thou dost _rather fear to do_, Than _wishest should be undone_.” Here we have Macbeth’s character. Here we have the secret of his goodness. It is _fear_ and _love of the world_. Shakspeare meant to draw a very—very common character, only he has made it colossal. How many men in the common life of this day are irreproachable from the same considerations—fear and love of the world, joined to a certain dislike of the trouble, exertion and risk of wrong. (“If we should fail!”) That these are the moving springs of this seemingly noble and generous but really remorseless and impious character we see again from a remark of his own. After contemplating the murder for some time, he concludes to abandon the plan. Why? Because he will not incur the moral guilt? Because he has thoughts of his God, whose eye is on him, and who cannot but punish a crime? Because the commandment has been written, “Thou shalt do no murder?” Because the Deity himself has decreed “blood for blood?” No. For reasons much more suited to his irreligious, infidel, worldly mind: “We will proceed no further in this business! He hath _honored_ me of late; and I have bought _Golden opinions_ from all _sorts of people_, Which should be worn now in their newest gloss, Not cast aside so soon.” These are his reasons for not wishing to proceed. Not a thought of his Maker—not an allusion to a future world. He expressly says, in another passage, if he could but be secure against detection _in this world_, he does not feel any apprehension respecting the other. He’ll “_jump the world to come_.”