Question

"A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross" what is the meaning of this statement in merchant of Venice ??

Answer 1

This expression ‘A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross’ means an elevated or great mind does not get attracted by bad things of the world. ‘Golden mind’ here refers to a kind, good, generous, and ethical heart; ‘dross’ here refers to evil, wily, and shrewd thoughts and acts that often the evil people do for selfish gains.

Answer 2

The statement seems to establish the fact that a wise and a high ranked person needs not waste his time to deal with the trivial things or matters. The matters of trivialities are equivalent to dross and worthless.

Shakespeare wants to say that a person of high prudence and stature does not tend to fall prey to the baser ones.