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Sonnet 116
Sonnet 116
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to
O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to
O, no! it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
5 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 29, 2011
About the author
William Shakespeare
28.5k books47.7k followersWilliam Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
March 27, 2017
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
- W S still lives through these lines.
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
- W S still lives through these lines.
March 9, 2023
v pretty writing but don’t agree with his take on what love is
November 17, 2025
This is a classic and
very good poem, IMO.
very good poem, IMO.
December 18, 2019
William Shakespeare Sonnet 116
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no; it is an ever-fixed mark,
That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.
July 7, 2019
نظرة شكسبير بالحب هي المعنى الحقيقي لمقولة "حُب الأوليين".. ثقته برأيه بالحب وماهو الحب الحقيقي؛ أن الحب الحقيقي لايكون من ضمن التغييرات تحت أي ظرف كان كل شيء يزول ويتبدل ويبقى الحب يبقى الحب اقوى من أي ريح قوية تضرب بالمُحبين تذهب الريح ويبقى الحب،الحب الحقيقي لا يتغير مع مرور الأيام والأسابيع يتغير الجسد وتظهر التجاعيد الا الحب يبقى كما هو إلى يوم القيامة"اذا كان حقيقي"، واذا اضاع اثنان طريقهما الحب فقط الحب هو كفيل بايصالهم الى بر الأمان، واذا لم تتواجد هذه الصفات لايسمى حب انما شيء آخر، اعجاب-تعلق-تسلية أي مسمى آخر غير الحب،، وفي الآخر ثقته بما كتب ان اذا لم يكن الحب الحقيقي بهذه الطريقة فأنا اعتزل الكتابة.... قصيدة جميلة
November 26, 2018
In this sonnet, William Shakespeare proclaims that all live and his love in particular is both true and immovable.
April 19, 2026
➳ 4 ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
i really enjoyed this poem! this was my first sonnet by shakespeare and i loved the way he wrote about the constancy of love
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
i really enjoyed this poem! this was my first sonnet by shakespeare and i loved the way he wrote about the constancy of love
୧ ‧₊˚ 🍓 ⋅ ☆
March 31, 2024
This is one of the finest poems penned by Man.
The poet is on the point of being acquiescent to his friend after a provisional separation or estrangement. He refuses to admit that there can be any hindrance to the flawless union of true and devoted lovers, as they are. The "loyalty of devoted friendship is as strong as the union of man and wife in matrimony". No obstacles, no tensions can separate their hearts, though there might be temporary misunderstandings.
True love is unchanged and permanent. It does not change with changing circumstances, which may bring about a cause or occasion for the separation of the lovers.
True love is constant and stands firm through the chances and changes of life. It love ever alters or undergoes any diminution; it is not worth the name of 'love'. It may be called fancy or charm or what you will, but it does not deserve the sacred name of 'love'. Even when the friend departs and there is estrangement or absence between them, true love will shine steadily, without any change.
Such is the love that the poet bears for his friend and he assures him of the permanence of his relation with him.
Let us read the following extract:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Here, the poet emphasizes the idea of the unchangeable and steady nature of true love under two images. True love does not change with the change of time or circumstances. It is like a lighthouse that stands in the midst of tempests and shines brightly to guide the mariners in the dark, unchartered sea. True love is a light to guide the souls of the lovers and no reverse circumstances of life, quarrels, separation, etc. can affect and weaken it.
Again, love may be compared to the polestar, that is the northern star, which has an ever-fixed position in the sky and never changes with the change of season. It guides the mariners, like a compass, showing the northern direction and thus saves them from wandering aimlessly in the absence of any guide.
Now the mariners have an idea of the position of the polestar, shiI1ing high in the north and steer their ships accordingly. However, little do the mariners know of the occult influence of the star upon the destinies of man.
The position of the star they know, but of the riches contained within it they are ignorant. They take the star only as a pointer and nothing more. In the same manner, love has not only a practical value in guiding the souls of man and uniting them together. It has" an eternal value immeasurably superior to the accidents of time".
And of this true worth love, its indestructibility few have any idea.
And hereafter, we come to the definition of love that this Sonnet provides. This is among the most often quoted and anthologised in the poetic canon.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom:
Wonderful, innit?
Shakespeare speaks of the dominance of true love to time. Love is not the mercy of time. Time marches on persistently, destroying everything in its path. Physical beauty ---- lovely lips and rosy cheeks wither away in course of time. However, love triumphs over the depredations of time. It endures till the doomsday and is therefore eternal.
The idea has been gaudily expressed under the image of time as a reaper. Time is here personified. With the bent sickle, it cuts down everything in the field as the reaper does. This reaper takes physical beauty of men and women away. However, love is beyond the clutches of the scythe of time. It is deathless and eternal.
Now the concluding lines:
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved
In these concluding lines of the sonnet the poet winds up the train of gorgeous thoughts of the previous lines. What he has said about the immortality of love and friendship, which is but a manifestation of it, is no mere rhetoric or poetic fancy. It is the poet's sincere and intense conviction, deeply felt, that is fabulously expressed in these lines.
He now asserts that if his conviction is falsified by any experience of his life, it would be a tragedy, indeed. In vain, then, did he write all his poetry, singing the praise of love. In vain, then, does man love each other, if love has no timeless validity. The poet refuses to accept the contrary of what he has said so long, for to accept it is to convert the experience itself into something tragically meaningless" .
What gives this poem its rhetorical and emotional influence is not its intricacy; rather, it is the force of its linguistic and emotional conviction.
Its brilliant.
The poet is on the point of being acquiescent to his friend after a provisional separation or estrangement. He refuses to admit that there can be any hindrance to the flawless union of true and devoted lovers, as they are. The "loyalty of devoted friendship is as strong as the union of man and wife in matrimony". No obstacles, no tensions can separate their hearts, though there might be temporary misunderstandings.
True love is unchanged and permanent. It does not change with changing circumstances, which may bring about a cause or occasion for the separation of the lovers.
True love is constant and stands firm through the chances and changes of life. It love ever alters or undergoes any diminution; it is not worth the name of 'love'. It may be called fancy or charm or what you will, but it does not deserve the sacred name of 'love'. Even when the friend departs and there is estrangement or absence between them, true love will shine steadily, without any change.
Such is the love that the poet bears for his friend and he assures him of the permanence of his relation with him.
Let us read the following extract:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wand'ring bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Here, the poet emphasizes the idea of the unchangeable and steady nature of true love under two images. True love does not change with the change of time or circumstances. It is like a lighthouse that stands in the midst of tempests and shines brightly to guide the mariners in the dark, unchartered sea. True love is a light to guide the souls of the lovers and no reverse circumstances of life, quarrels, separation, etc. can affect and weaken it.
Again, love may be compared to the polestar, that is the northern star, which has an ever-fixed position in the sky and never changes with the change of season. It guides the mariners, like a compass, showing the northern direction and thus saves them from wandering aimlessly in the absence of any guide.
Now the mariners have an idea of the position of the polestar, shiI1ing high in the north and steer their ships accordingly. However, little do the mariners know of the occult influence of the star upon the destinies of man.
The position of the star they know, but of the riches contained within it they are ignorant. They take the star only as a pointer and nothing more. In the same manner, love has not only a practical value in guiding the souls of man and uniting them together. It has" an eternal value immeasurably superior to the accidents of time".
And of this true worth love, its indestructibility few have any idea.
And hereafter, we come to the definition of love that this Sonnet provides. This is among the most often quoted and anthologised in the poetic canon.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom:
Wonderful, innit?
Shakespeare speaks of the dominance of true love to time. Love is not the mercy of time. Time marches on persistently, destroying everything in its path. Physical beauty ---- lovely lips and rosy cheeks wither away in course of time. However, love triumphs over the depredations of time. It endures till the doomsday and is therefore eternal.
The idea has been gaudily expressed under the image of time as a reaper. Time is here personified. With the bent sickle, it cuts down everything in the field as the reaper does. This reaper takes physical beauty of men and women away. However, love is beyond the clutches of the scythe of time. It is deathless and eternal.
Now the concluding lines:
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved
In these concluding lines of the sonnet the poet winds up the train of gorgeous thoughts of the previous lines. What he has said about the immortality of love and friendship, which is but a manifestation of it, is no mere rhetoric or poetic fancy. It is the poet's sincere and intense conviction, deeply felt, that is fabulously expressed in these lines.
He now asserts that if his conviction is falsified by any experience of his life, it would be a tragedy, indeed. In vain, then, did he write all his poetry, singing the praise of love. In vain, then, does man love each other, if love has no timeless validity. The poet refuses to accept the contrary of what he has said so long, for to accept it is to convert the experience itself into something tragically meaningless" .
What gives this poem its rhetorical and emotional influence is not its intricacy; rather, it is the force of its linguistic and emotional conviction.
Its brilliant.
March 11, 2023
I generally do not leave reviews on here and this is by no means a good one (it is moreso a cluster of thoughts), but I had to state my piece on this particular sonnet.
Shakespeare is able to nestle his expansive notion of true love within the rigid form of a sonnet. Shakespeare is also able to shatter my notion of love in fourteen structurally constrained lines:
I have held the belief, which is widely regarded as truth, that sometimes love is not enough. Shakespeare, however, argues that if the love is *true*, then it is always enough :,)
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree, it is undoubtedly a powerful argument and one that is asserted in a masterful manner.
All in all, I would very much like a love that is an 'ever-fixed mark' rather than a shallow puddle of adoration that 'alters when it alteration finds'.
Shakespeare is able to nestle his expansive notion of true love within the rigid form of a sonnet. Shakespeare is also able to shatter my notion of love in fourteen structurally constrained lines:
I have held the belief, which is widely regarded as truth, that sometimes love is not enough. Shakespeare, however, argues that if the love is *true*, then it is always enough :,)
Regardless of whether you agree or disagree, it is undoubtedly a powerful argument and one that is asserted in a masterful manner.
All in all, I would very much like a love that is an 'ever-fixed mark' rather than a shallow puddle of adoration that 'alters when it alteration finds'.
July 7, 2024
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
It was my first poem by William Shakespeare, and I gotta be honest here it didn’t work for me.
The plot was super boring and I just couldn’t connect with it. And if you have read some of my reviews then you will know that if I can’t connect with the story or the characters then the rating will be very low.
The writing here didn’t seem like William Shakespeare. The writing style felt like someone trying to imprecate William Shakespeare and nothing more than that.
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
It was my first poem by William Shakespeare, and I gotta be honest here it didn’t work for me.
The plot was super boring and I just couldn’t connect with it. And if you have read some of my reviews then you will know that if I can’t connect with the story or the characters then the rating will be very low.
The writing here didn’t seem like William Shakespeare. The writing style felt like someone trying to imprecate William Shakespeare and nothing more than that.
February 18, 2026
the only words that can describe this sonnet are
" dont blame me love made me crazy ,if it doesn't to you then you are not doing it right lord save me my drug is my baby I will be using for the rest of my life "
" dont blame me love made me crazy ,if it doesn't to you then you are not doing it right lord save me my drug is my baby I will be using for the rest of my life "
December 7, 2017
I read this excellent sonnet years ago.
"Sonnet 116" also found online at poetrysoup.com
"Sonnet 116" also found online at poetrysoup.com
February 4, 2018
who better than Shakespeare can define what love is !
June 13, 2019
This is my favorite sonnet of William Shakespeare's.
May 22, 2020
I read this back in high school but never actually understood it until I re-read it today. And I find it so sweet and moving and great.
July 26, 2021
I think the Author is saying that real love is unconditional and will endure even through the toughest of times. It is not easily swayed by lust or great test or tribulations. It bears all things.
August 12, 2021
I have arranged my takeaway thoughts in response on this sonnet into a haiku as best as I can:
"Time may change the flesh
And steadfast love will stay, but
Minds and hearts grow too."
"Time may change the flesh
And steadfast love will stay, but
Minds and hearts grow too."
September 9, 2022
really like this one
October 25, 2022
Qué es y qué no es el amor.
November 27, 2022
Well done Sir
January 30, 2023
I thought it was really pretty sonnet and really enjoyed it.
July 4, 2023
Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds
Which alters when it alteration finds
February 6, 2024
hands down the only thing ive read from him ive ever liked
November 30, 2024
Another popular love poem... love is fixed...it's not easily shaken or changed, but solid like a rock. Shakespeare has a way with words.
January 11, 2025
How romantic ❤️
March 5, 2025
This is exactly how love should be.. though so rarely is
April 29, 2025
I dont even have anything against this poem i just had to analyse it for weeks for my gcses and it just made me want to jump
Read
September 19, 2025read for school
November 12, 2025
"Love's not time's fool"
January 11, 2026
i rather enjoyed this one , one of the only poems from that century to not write about women in a misogynistic manner
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews