As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
William ShakespeareRead
Affection is a coal that must be cooled; else, suffered, it will set the heart on fire.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Affection needs to be balanced; excessive passion can lead to emotional pain.
This quote by William Shakespeare suggests that while affection and love can be powerful forces in our lives, they must be kept in check. If we allow our feelings to run uncontrolled, they can lead to overwhelming emotions and potential heartbreak; therefore, moderation is key in matters of the heart.
Themes
AffectionEmotionLoveHeartPassion
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used during a relationship counseling session to emphasize the importance of moderation in affection.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes βLove bears it out even to the edge of doom.
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Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
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Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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Similar quotes
A woman of seven and twenty, said Marianne, after pausing a moment, can never hope to feel or inspire affection again.
Jane AustenRead
And Father said, "Christopher, do you understand that I love you?" And I said "Yes," because loving someone is helping them when they get into trouble, and looking after them, and telling them the truth, and Father looks after me when I get into trouble, like coming to the police station, and he looks after me by cooking meals for me, and he always tells me the truth, which means that he loves me.
Mark HaddonRead
One word more. You look as if you thought it tainted you to be loved by me. You cannot avoid it. Nay, I, if I would, cannot cleanse you from it. But I would not, if I could. I have never loved any woman before: my life has been too busy, my thoughts too much absorbed with other things. Now I love, and will love. But do not be afraid of too much expression on my part.
Elizabeth GaskellRead
Don't forget to love yourself.
Soren KierkegaardRead
Even a god finds it hard to love and be wise at the same time. -Amare et sapere vix deo conceditur
Publilius SyrusRead
True love allows each person to follow his or her own path, aware that doing so can never drive them apart.
Paulo CoelhoRead