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
If music be the food of love, play on, Give me excess of it; that surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote expresses the desire for an abundance of music, equating it to nourishment for love.
In this quote, Shakespeare uses the metaphor of music as food for love, suggesting that love requires sustenance to thrive. By asking for an excess of music, the speaker seeks to indulge deeply in feelings of love, ultimately hoping that overwhelming the senses may lead to desensitization and the end of longing.
Themes
MusicLoveExcessNourishmentAppetite
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about the power of music in romantic relationships.
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