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
All days are nights to see till I see thee, And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker feels incomplete when apart from their beloved, as day feels like night without them.
In this quote, Shakespeare expresses the profound impact of love on one's perception of time and reality. When the speaker is separated from their beloved, every day feels dark and without purpose, while even the night becomes bright and filled with hope and joy in dreams where they can be together. This illustrates the deep emotional connection and longing that defines true love.
Themes
LoveLongingPerceptionDayNightDreams
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a romantic letter to express affection and longing.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes →Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
William ShakespeareRead
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
William ShakespeareRead
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
William ShakespeareRead
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
William ShakespeareRead
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
William ShakespeareRead
Similar quotes
You’ll come back To me . . . It’s written in the stars, you see, you’ll come back. You’ll come back, it’s a fact that I am strong because I do believe in you.
Umberto EcoRead
Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine; Love was born at Christmas; Star and angels gave the sign.
Christina RossettiRead
Love ambushed you, it lay in wait, dormant for days or years. It was the red thread, the peach stone, the kiss, the forgiveness. It came after you, it escaped you, it was invisible, it was everything.
Alice HoffmanRead
If you want to be loved, be loveable.
OvidRead
Because of a great love, one is courageous.
LaoziRead
'It is love and reason,' I said, 'fleeing from all this madness of war.'
H. G. WellsRead