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
Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books, But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Love naturally draws people together, while separation from love can lead to sadness and reluctance.
This quote illustrates the contrasting feelings that love evokes; it suggests that when people are in love, they are eager to be together, much like schoolboys excitedly leaving their studies. However, when love is absent or they must be apart, they feel weighed down, reflecting the heaviness of longing and absence that love can create.
Themes
LoveLongingSeparationEmotionRelationship
In practice
Example use cases
During a wedding speech, you might use this quote to highlight the joy and struggles of love.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes βLove bears it out even to the edge of doom.
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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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