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
Is this the generation of love? Hot blood, hot thoughts and hot deeds? Why, they are vipers. Is love a generation of vipers?
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote questions the true nature of love within its generation, suggesting that it may be filled with passionate but harmful impulses.
In this quote, Shakespeare examines the complexities of love by referring to a generation characterized by intense emotions and actions, likening them to vipers—creatures often associated with danger and malice. This suggests that while love can ignite fervor and passion, it may also lead to destructive behavior and betrayal, prompting a deeper reflection on the qualities of love and relationships within a given time.
Themes
LoveGenerationPassionDeceptionEmotion
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on contemporary relationships, one might invoke this quote to illustrate the contentious nature of modern love.
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All quotes →Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
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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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