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
The course of true love never did run smooth.
Interpretation
True love often faces challenges and obstacles.
This quote from Shakespeare suggests that love, while a beautiful and profound experience, is fraught with difficulties and complications. It highlights the idea that genuine romantic relationships will encounter various trials, and these struggles are an inherent part of the journey towards a fulfilling partnership.
In practice
During wedding speeches, one might reference this quote to highlight the challenges faced in love.
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).
Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
Romantic poses aside, let us recognize that "falling in love"...is an inferior state of mind, a form of transitory imbecility.
Wild Nights β Wild Nights! Were I with thee Wild Nights should be Our luxury! Futile β the winds β To a heart in port β Done with the compass β Done with the chart! Rowing in Eden β Ah, the sea! Might I moor β Tonight β In thee!
Love rules the court, the camp, the grove, And men below, and saints above: For love is heaven, and heaven is love.
Have you ever felt the longing for someone you could admire? For something, not to look down at, but up to?
We may give our human loves the unconditional allegiance which we owe only to God. They they become gods: then they become demons. Then they will destroy us, and also destroy themselves. For natural loves that are allowed to become gods do not remain loves. They are still called so, but can become in fact complicated forms of hatred.
If you want to fall in love, you can't hold everything in. You have to open up, take that risk. You'll be hurt sometimes, but if you don't, you'll never be happy. The one you find may not be the kind of woman you expected to fall in love with, but it wont matter, you'll love her for exactly what she is.
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