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
The sweetest honey Is loathsome in his own deliciousness, And in the taste confounds the appetite: Therefore love moderately— long love doth so.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Excessive indulgence in love can lead to problems; moderation is key for lasting affection.
In this quote, Shakespeare suggests that while love can be delightful, overindulgence can make it lose its appeal, just like honey that is too sweet can become unappetizing. He advocates for a measured approach to love, implying that enduring love requires balance and moderation to maintain its sweetness.
Themes
LoveModerationBalanceAffectionHappiness
In practice
Example use cases
A speaker at a wedding might quote this to emphasize the importance of a balanced approach to love in a marriage.
More from William Shakespeare
All quotes →Love 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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In our darkest hour, in my deepest despair,_x000D_ Will you still care? Will you be there?_x000D_ In my trials and my tribulations,_x000D_ Through our doubts and frustrations,_x000D_ In my violence and my turbulence,_x000D_ Through my fear and my confessions,_x000D_ And my anguish and my pain,_x000D_ Through my joy and my sorrow,_x000D_ In the promise of another tomorrow,_x000D_ I'll never let you part,_x000D_ For you're always in my heart.
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If you are silent, be silent out of love. If you speak, speak out of love.
Saint AugustineRead