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
These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume. The sweetest honey Is loathsome in his own deliciousness And in the taste confounds the appetite. Therefore love moderately; long love doth so; Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.
Interpretation
This quote advises moderation in love to prevent destructive outcomes.
William Shakespeare's quote warns that extreme passions can lead to disastrous consequences, suggesting that love should be approached with moderation. The imagery of fire and powder highlights how intense emotions can quickly lead to turmoil, while the notion that even the sweetest experiences can become overwhelming emphasizes the need for balance in relationships to ensure longevity and happiness.
In practice
A wedding speech emphasizing the importance of balanced love.
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).
Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
How could it be that you could love someone so much and keep it secret from yourself as you woke daily so far from home?
When we lose one we love, our bitterest tears are called forth by the memory of hours when we loved not enough.
Learning to love others begins with learning to love ourselves unconditionally first. I will never let myself down, treat myself like a doormat, or make myself small so others can feel big. I have learned that this is the biggest gift that I give not only to myself, but also to the planet, because I paint others with the same brush as I use on myself.
God's love is unbounded. It has no limits.
Love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams.
The people who are most attractive to me are those who feel most comfortable in their skin - there's a sense of self-acceptance.
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