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
He makes a July's day short as December.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that someone has the power to make even the most joyous times feel fleeting.
In this quote from Shakespeare, the speaker reflects on the bittersweet nature of love, indicating that the presence of a beloved can transform a day of joy into one of melancholy simply due to their absence. It highlights how deep emotions can distort our perception of time, rendering even the longest days feel short when shadowed by longing or sorrow.
In practice
During a wedding toast to express how love can make time seem to fly.
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.
You are right,β he had said. βLove is not the word. No one can love his neighbor. Say, rather, βKnow thy neighbor as thyself.β That is, comprehend his hardships and understand his position, deal with his faults as gently as with your own. Do not judge him where you do not judge yourself. Madame, this is the meaning of the word love.
Now I am going to reveal to you something which is very pure, a totally white thought. It is always in my heart; it blooms at each of my steps... The Dance is love, it is only love, it alone, and that is enough... I, then, it is amorously that I dance: to poems, to music but now I would like to no longer dance to anything but the rhythm of my soul.
Bring the pure wine of love and freedom. But sir, a tornado is coming. More wine, we'll teach this storm A thing or two about whirling.
MY river runs to thee: Blue sea, wilt welcome me? My river waits reply. Oh sea, look graciously! I βll fetch thee brooks From spotted nooks,β Say, sea, Take me!
Spread love, it's the Brooklyn way.
At least you are mine! Soon β in a few months, perhaps, my angel will sleep in my arms, will awaken in my arms, will live there. All your thought at all moments, all your looks will be for me; all my thought, all my moments, all my looks will be for you!
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