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 love him for his sake;_x000D_ _x000D_ And yet I know him a notorious liar,_x000D_ _x000D_ Think him a great way fool, solely a coward;_x000D_ _x000D_ Yet these fix'd evils sit so fit in him_x000D_ _x000D_ That they take place when virtue's steely bones_x000D_ _x000D_ Looks bleak i' th' cold wind; withal, full oft we see_x000D_ _x000D_ Cold wisdom waiting on superfluous folly.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote explores the complex nature of love, revealing how one can love someone despite their flaws.
In this quote, Shakespeare examines the paradox of love, wherein deep affection can coexist with acknowledgment of a person's faults. The speaker expresses feelings for someone who is clearly flawed, embodying both cowardice and folly, yet these negative traits seem to be an integral part of their character. The quote serves as a reflection on the nature of relationships, where understanding and acceptance of imperfections might outweigh the consideration of those very flaws.
Themes
LoveFlawsRelationshipsAcceptanceImperfection
In practice
Example use cases
Sharing this quote in a discussion on unconditional love with friends.
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