Romantic Shakespeare Quotes

William Shakespeare was considered a true romantic. He portrayed love as a heady mix of passion, aggression, despair, and determination. There are amorous love scenes in many of his plays. If you are a romantic, too, you will appreciate the intensity of these Shakespeare quotes.

Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II

I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!

Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II

Then plainly know my heart's dear love is set
On the fair daughter of rich Capulet:
As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine;
And all combined, save what thou must combine
By holy marriage: when and where and how
We met, we woo'd and made exchange of vow,
I'll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray,
That thou consent to marry us to-day.

Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene 3

I pray thee, chide not; she whom I love now
Doth grace for grace and love for love allow;
The other did not so.

Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene 3

O, she knew well
Thy love did read by rote, that could not spell.
But come, young waverer, come go with me,
In one respect I'll thy assistant be;
For this alliance may so happy prove,
To turn your households' rancour to pure love.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act I, Sc. III

O, how this spring of love resembleth
The uncertain glory of an April day!

Twelfth Night, Act III, Sc. I

Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.

Twelfth Night, Act II, Sc. III

Journeys end in lovers meeting,
Every wise man's son doth know.

Twelfth Night, Act I, Scene 1

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 soever,
But falls into abatement and low price
Even in a minute! so full of shapes is fancy,
That it alone is high-fantastical.

As You Like It

No sooner met but they looked;

No sooner looked but they loved;
No sooner loved but they sighed;
No sooner signed but they asked one another the reason;
No sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy;
And in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs to marriage...

Much Ado about Nothing, Act IV, Sc. I

I never tempted her with word too large,
But, as a brother to his sister, show'd
Bashful sincerity and comely love.

Othello, Act II, Sc. III

Cassio, I love thee;
But never more be officer of mine.

Othello, Act III, Sc. III

But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er
Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!

Othello, Act III, Sc. III

Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,
But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,
Chaos is come again.

Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Sc. II

Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow,
That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

Romeo and Juliet, Act II, Scene II

My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.

Romeo and Juliet, Act I, Sc. V

My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act I, Sc. I

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;

And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.

Antony and Cleopatra, Act I, Sc. I

There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.

As You Like It, Act II, Sc. V

Under the greenwood tree
Who loves to lie with me.

As You Like It, Act IV, Sc. I

Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love.

As You Like It, Act V, Sc. II

No sooner met but they looked; no sooner looked but they loved; no sooner loved but they sighed; no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason; no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy.

Hamlet, Act II, Sc. I

This is the very ecstasy of love.

Hamlet, Act II, Sc. II

Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.

Julius Caesar, Act III, Sc. I

Though last, not least in love.

A Midsummer Night's Dream, Act I, Sc. I

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;

And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.

Antony and Cleopatra, Act I, Sc. I

There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.

As You Like It, Act II, Sc. V

Under the greenwood tree
Who loves to lie with me.

As You Like It, Act IV, Sc. I

Men have died from time to time, and worms have eaten them, but not for love.

As You Like It, Act V, Sc. II

No sooner met but they looked; no sooner looked but they loved; no sooner loved but they sighed; no sooner sighed but they asked one another the reason; no sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy.

Hamlet, Act II, Sc. I

This is the very ecstasy of love.

Hamlet, Act II, Sc. II

Doubt thou the stars are fire;

Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.

Julius Caesar, Act III, Sc. I

Though last, not least in love.