QuoteProject
Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O any thing, of nothing first create! O heavy lightness, serious vanity, Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms, Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love feel I, that feel no love in this.
William Shakespeare
ShareWTF𝕏

Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote expresses the paradoxes and contradictions inherent in love.

In this quote, Shakespeare highlights the complex and often contradictory nature of love through a series of paradoxes. The imagery of 'brawling love' and 'loving hate' illustrates how love can evoke intense emotions that seem at odds with each other, reflecting the turmoil one can feel when in love. The speaker confesses to experiencing these conflicting feelings, conveying a sense of confusion and dissatisfaction in their pursuit of love, which adds depth to the exploration of romantic emotions.

Themes

LoveParadoxEmotionConflictHeartache

In practice

Example use cases

In a romantic movie scene discussing the complexities of relationships.

More from William Shakespeare

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
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

Strength enough to build a home, Time enough to hold a child, Love enough to break a heart
Terry PratchettRead
Where pride begins, love ceases.
Johann Kaspar LavaterRead
Love means to look at yourself_x000D_ The way one looks at distant things_x000D_ For you are only one thing among many.
Czeslaw MiloszRead
One has no right to love or hate anything if one has not acquired a thorough knowledge of its nature. Great love springs from great knowledge of the beloved object, and if you know it but little you will be able to love it only a little or not at all.
Leonardo Da VinciRead
Love was the key to understanding all of the mysteries.
Paulo CoelhoRead
The most exciting thing is not doing it. If you fall in love with someone and never do it, it's much more exciting.
Andy WarholRead

A little wisdom, now and then

Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.