Who, dipping all his faults in their affection, Would, like the spring that turneth wood to stone, Convert his gyves to graces.

The other motive,
Why to a public count I might not go,
Is the great love the general gender bear him;
Who, dipping all his faults in their affection,
Would, like the spring that turneth wood to stone,
Convert his gyves to graces.

– William Shakespeare

Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 7. Claudius admits he could not bring charges against Hamlet in a public court for killing Polonius because of the common people’s love for Hamlet. He compares it to a magical spring that can turn wood to stone, so that the people would somehow see his faults as virtues.

William Shakespeare Quotes