What’s inside: Here are almost two dozen short quotes about love from classic authors and poets. Admittedly, Shakespeare is over represented.
Some Short Quotes about Love
Poets love writing about love. And even prose authors devote much time to the topic. Especially Shakespeare.
See if any of these resonate with you.
Shakespeare Quotes about Love
“Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt thou the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love.” ― William Shakespeare, Hamlet
“I would not wish any companion in the world but you.” ― William Shakespeare, The Tempest
“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind,
And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” ― William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Prose Authors Short Love Quotes
It’s important to add “short” here – because prose authors can wax on and on about love. Astonishingly, I’ve found a short one by Dickens, but I’ll include the full quote here and the short excerpt on an image.
“You are part of my existence, part of myself. You have been in every line I have ever read, since I first came here, the rough common boy whose poor heart you wounded even then. You have been in every prospect I have ever seen since-on the river, on the sails of the ships, on the marshes, in the clouds, in the light, in the darkness, in the wind, in the woods, in the sea, in the streets. You have been the embodiment of every graceful fancy that my mind has ever become acquainted with.” ― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations.
“I would rather spend one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
“My heart is, and always will be, yours.” — Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility
“In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I love and admire you.” — Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
“Love is a great beautifier.” ― Louisa May Alcott, Little Women
More from Prose Authors
“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.” ― C.S Lewis.
“Who, being loved, is poor?” — Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance
“You should be kissed, and often, and by someone who knows how.” — Margaret Mitchell, Gone with the Wind
“Love, whether newly born or aroused from a deathlike slumber, must always create sunshine, filling the heart so full of radiance, that it overflows upon the outward world.” ― Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter
Whimsical
“There is nothing more attractive than a nice smile.” ― Charles Schulz.
“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” ― Charles Schulz.
Poets on Love
Poets devote whole poems to love. So, here are some tidbits from classic poets.
“Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” ― Emily Brontë.
“Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.” ― Alfred Lord Tennyson, In Memoriam
“My love is like a red, red rose, That’s newly sprung in June.” ― Robert Burns
Sonnets
Sonnets are a great place to look for love quotes. But most aren’t short!
This next one cheats a bit, since it is the first line of a longer famous poem. I’ll include the whole poem here for your enjoyment.
Of course you know that Elizabeth Barrett Browning married the also famous poet, Robert Browning, and she wrote this sonnet for him as part of her book of love sonnets, Sonnets from the Portuguese, which Elizabeth wrote to Robert before they eloped against the wishes of her father, who ultimately never spoke to her again.
How Do I Love Thee (Sonnet 43)
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Short enough?
I hope these were short enough to amuse and inspire you. So, get out there and read some classical stories or poems! Maybe a sonnet even.
If you want to see how I use quotes for copywork or in my commonplace notebook, enjoy these posts.
