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
Men are April when they woo, December when they wed. Maids are May when they are maids, but the sky changes when they are wives.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that men and women display different characteristics in courtship versus marriage.
William Shakespeare's quote illustrates the contrasting behaviors and phases of men and women as they transition from courtship to marriage. He portrays men as being lighthearted and charming like April in their wooing phase, while they become more somber like December once they wed. Conversely, women are depicted as fresh and vibrant like May during courtship, but their demeanor shifts once they become wives, hinting at the expectations and responsibilities that change their nature.
Themes
RelationshipsCourtshipMarriageLoveBehavior
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a wedding toast to highlight the changes that come with marriage.
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