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
I pray you, do not fall in love with me, for I am falser than vows made in wine.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The speaker warns against falling in love with them due to their unreliability.
In this quote, the speaker conveys a deep sense of self-awareness about their own flaws and untrustworthiness. They use the metaphor of 'vows made in wine' to suggest that promises made under the influence of alcohol are fickle and unreliable, implying that their own affections are equally untrustworthy and should not be subject to romantic feelings from others. This reflects a complex understanding of love, vulnerability, and the nature of human relationships.
Themes
LoveTrustRelationshipsBetrayalAffection
In practice
Example use cases
During a romantic dinner, one might quote this to express fears of emotional vulnerability.
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Good company, good wine, good welcome, can make good people.
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Absence doth sharpen love, presence strengthens it; the one brings fuel, the other blows it till it burns clear.
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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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