Love Quote by William Shakespeare
““If music be the food of love, play on; Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting, The appetite may sicken, and so die. That strain again! it had a dying fall: O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound, That breathes upon a bank of violets, Stealing and giving odour! Enough; no more: 'Tis not so sweet now as it was before. O spirit of love! how quick and fresh art thou, That, notwithstanding thy capacity Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there, Of what validity and pitch soe'er, But falls into abatement and low price, Even in a minute: so full of shapes is fancy That it alone is high fantastical.””
About This Quote
Source Play: Twelfth Night, Act 1, Scene 1, 1602
The speaker likens love to music, saying too much of it loses its sweetness and value, while desire constantly changes and fades.
In simple terms: Too much love loses its charm; desire is fleeting.
Key Takeaway
Enjoy love while it’s fresh.
Themes
love
art
transience
desire
music
Mood
melancholic
reflective
Type
literary
poetic
dramatic
When to use this quote
- Romantic courtship
- creative inspiration
- emotional regulation
- relationship dynamics
- artistic expression
Key Concepts
Aesthetics
impermanence
sensory metaphor
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you keep love vibrant?
- When does passion become overwhelming?
A Different Perspective
Excess can dull even the most beautiful experiences.
