Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies.
John DonneRead
Sweetest love, I do not go, For weariness of thee, Nor in hope the world can show A fitter love for me; But since that I Must die at last, 'tis best, To use my self in jest Thus by feign'd deaths to die.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker expresses a profound love that transcends the fear of loss, finding solace in the idea of playful deception about death.
In this quote, John Donne explores the complexity of love and mortality, conveying that his love is so deep that he does not seek to leave or replace it. Instead, he highlights the inevitability of death, suggesting that it might be wiser to embrace life with humor and lightness, even in the face of such profound truths.
Themes
LoveMortalityHumorDeceptionLife
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be shared during a wedding speech to highlight the playful yet profound nature of true love.
More from John Donne
All quotes →Reason is our soul's left hand, Faith her right, By these we reach divinity
John DonneRead
All occasions invite His mercies, and all times are His seasons.
John DonneRead
If poisonous minerals, and if that tree, Whose fruit threw death on else immortal us, If lecherous goats, if serpents envious Cannot be damned; alas; why should I be?
John DonneRead
Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
John DonneRead
I call not that virginity a virtue, which resideth onely in the bodies integrity; much less if it be with a purpose of perpetually keeping it: for then it is a most inhumane vice. - But I call that Virginity a virtue which is willing and desirous to yield it self upon honest and lawfull terms, when just reason requireth; and until then, is kept with a modest chastity of body and mind.
John DonneRead
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