I will not be sworn but love may transform me to an…
““I will not be sworn but love may transform me to an oyster, but I’ll take my oath on it, till he have made an oyster of me, he shall never make me such a fool. One woman is fair, yet I am well; another is wise, yet I am well; another virtuous, yet I am well; but till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace. Rich she shall be, that’s certain; wise, or I’ll none; virtuous, or I’ll never cheapen her; fair, or I’ll ever look on her; mild, or come not near me; noble, or not I for an angel; of good discourse, an excellent musician, and her hair shall be of what color it please God. Ha! The Prince and Monsieur Love! I will hide me in the arbor.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A speaker laments that love cannot be bound by vows, and he will only accept a woman who embodies all virtues, otherwise he remains unattached.
In simple terms: He refuses to commit unless a woman has every perfect quality.
Key Takeaway
Seek partners with realistic expectations.
Themes
love
expectations
commitment
Mood
reflective
melancholy
hopeful
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- courtship
- marriage negotiations
- self‑reflection
- relationship expectations
- personal standards
Key Concepts
idealization
self‑control
paradox
Questions to Reflect On
- What qualities are truly essential in a partner?
- How do unrealistic standards affect relationships?
A Different Perspective
The demand for an impossible perfect partner is unrealistic and may lead to perpetual loneliness.