Love bears it out even to the edge of doom.
William ShakespeareRead
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).
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker reflects on the emptiness of superficial honors and relationships, longing for genuine connections.
In this quote, Shakespeare explores the theme of authenticity versus superficiality. The speaker acknowledges the absence of true honor and love, instead facing insincere accolades and curses that weigh heavily on the heart. This contrast illustrates the pain of longing for meaningful relationships amidst a facade of false friendships and social expectations.
Themes
HonorLoveFriendshipAuthenticitySuperficiality
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a speech about the importance of genuine relationships.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes →Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
William ShakespeareRead
Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
William ShakespeareRead
Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!
William ShakespeareRead
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
William ShakespeareRead
He's all my exercise, my mirth, my matter.
William ShakespeareRead
Similar quotes
Both our senses and our passions are a supply to the imperfection of our nature; thus they show that we are such sort of creatures as to stand in need of those helps which higher orders of creatures do not.
Joseph ButlerRead
The Sage has no thinking mind and therefore there are no ‘others’ for him.
Ramana MaharshiRead
Nothing is more unreliable than the populace, nothing more obscure than human intentions, nothing more deceptive than the whole electoral system.
Marcus Tullius CiceroRead
In a media culture, we not only judge strangers by how they look but by the images of how they look. So we want attractive pictures of our heroes and repulsive images of our enemies.
Virginia PostrelRead
He that does good to another does good also to himself, not only in the consequence but in the very act. For the consciousness of well-doing is in itself ample reward.
Seneca The YoungerRead
I find it impossible to experience either pride or shame over accidents of genetics in which I had no active part. I'm not necessarily proud to be female. I am not even proud to be human — I only love to be so.
Zadie SmithRead