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Blue Quote by William Shakespeare

“When daisies pied and violets blue And lady-smocks all silver-white And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue Do paint the meadows with delight, The cuckoo then, on every tree, Mocks married men; for thus sings he, Cuckoo; Cuckoo, cuckoo; O, word of fear, Unpleasing to a married ear.” quote by William Shakespeare
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“When daisies pied and violets blue And lady-smocks all silver-white And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue Do paint the meadows with delight, The cuckoo then, on every tree, Mocks married men; for thus sings he, Cuckoo; Cuckoo, cuckoo; O, word of fear, Unpleasing to a married ear.”

William Shakespeare

About This Quote

Source Play: "The Merry Wives of Windsor", William Shakespeare, 1602

The cuckoo’s song mocks married men, using nature imagery to comment on marital fidelity and fear.

In simple terms: Cuckoo mocks married men, highlighting fear of infidelity.

Key Takeaway

Consider how humor reveals social anxieties.

Themes

marriage infidelity humor

Mood

playful critical

Type

literary social

When to use this quote

  • wedding planning
  • relationship counseling
  • literary analysis
  • social commentary

Key Concepts

Elizabethan satire gender roles

Questions to Reflect On

  • What fears about marriage do you notice?
  • How does satire affect your view of relationships?
A Different Perspective

Humor may not translate across cultures.

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