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
Oh why rebuke you him that loves you so? / Lay breath so bitter on your bitter foe.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote questions why someone would criticize or reject someone who loves them deeply.
In this quote from Shakespeare, the speaker reflects on the irony and pain of rejecting someone who shows genuine love. It suggests that instead of rebuking or pushing away a lover, one should consider the depth of their feelings and the bitterness that can arise from such rejection, hinting at the complexity of love and relationships.
Themes
LoveRebukeRelationshipsBitternessAffection
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about the complexities of love at a relationship seminar.
More from William Shakespeare
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Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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