Skip to content

Emotion Quote by William Shakespeare

“Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will! Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was here? Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love. Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O any thing, of nothing…” quote by William Shakespeare
Download Open image
““Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will! Where shall we dine? O me! What fray was here? Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love. Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O any thing, of nothing first create! O heavy lightness! Serious vanity! Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health! Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love feel I, that feel no love in this. Dost thou not laugh?””

William Shakespeare

About This Quote

Source Play: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act 5, Scene 1, 1595

The speaker paradoxically describes love as both chaotic and purposeful, highlighting its contradictory nature and the confusion it brings.

In simple terms: Love is confusing and contradictory.

Key Takeaway

Embrace love's paradoxes.

Themes

love contradiction confusion passion paradox

Mood

conflicted introspective melancholic

Type

literary philosophical dramatic

When to use this quote

  • romantic relationships
  • artistic creation
  • self‑reflection
  • conflict resolution
  • emotional turmoil

Key Concepts

philosophy psychology literature

Questions to Reflect On

  • How do you reconcile love's chaos with rational thought?
  • What does "heavy lightness" suggest about love?
A Different Perspective

Love's irrationality can lead to harmful decisions if unchecked.

3.8 out of 5 (5 ratings)

More by William Shakespeare

Explore all 5,607 William Shakespeare quotes

More Emotion quotes

Browse all 7,206 Emotion quotes