When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,I all alone beweep my outcast state And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless criesAnd look upon myself and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,Desiring this man's art and that man's scope, With what I most enjoy contented least; Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,Haply I think on thee, and then my state, Like to the lark at break of day arising From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth bringsThat then I scorn to change my state with kings.
William Shakespeare Sonnets
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In this excerpt, the speaker expresses deep feelings of despair and self-loathing, feeling unfortunate and isolated from the world. He laments his outcast status and envies those who appear to have more hope, companionship, and talent. His reflective thoughts reveal a profound discontent with his own life, as he grapples with feelings of inadequacy and longing for a different existence. He desires the attributes and successes of others, indicating a struggle with self-acceptance.

However, amidst this turmoil, the speaker finds solace in the thought of a beloved. This love lifts his spirits and transforms his despondent state, akin to a lark rising at dawn, bringing joy and hope. The remembrance of this sweet love instills a sense of wealth and happiness that overshadows his previous discontent. Ultimately, he concludes that the value of love far surpasses riches, leading him to reject any desire to exchange his life for that of a king.

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Sonnets
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William Shakespeare
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Other quotes in Sonnets

Why didst thou promise such a beauteous dayAnd make me travel forth without my cloak,To let base clouds o'ertake me in my way,Hiding they brav'ry in their rotten smoke?
William Shakespeare Sonnets
Why didst thou promise such a beauteous dayAnd make me travel forth without my cloak,To let base clouds o'ertake me in my way,Hiding they brav'ry in their rotten smoke?
The union of two sincere souls It does not admit impediments. It is not love love that is transformed with change, Or move away with distance. Oh, no! It is a lighthouse always firm, that challenges storms without shuddering. It is the star for the navio to drift, of incalculable value, although its height is mixed. It is not a jester of time, although the pink lips and cheeks fall under the blow of their scythe. Love does not alter with its brief hours and weeks, but even strengthens even at the edge of the abyss. Yes I am wrong and demonstrates, I ever wrote, and nobody ever loved.
William Shakespeare Sonnets
The union of two sincere souls It does not admit impediments. It is not love love that is transformed with change, Or move away with distance. Oh, no! It is a lighthouse always firm, that challenges storms without shuddering. It is the star for the navio to drift, of incalculable value, although its height is mixed. It is not a jester of time, although the pink lips and cheeks fall under the blow of their scythe. Love does not alter with its brief hours and weeks, but even strengthens even at the edge of the abyss. Yes I am wrong and demonstrates, I ever wrote, and nobody ever loved.
When I do count the clock that tells the time,And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;When I behold the violet past prime,And sable curls all silver'd o'er with white;When lofty trees I see barren of leavesWhich erst from heat did canopy the herd,And summer's green all girded up in sheavesBorne on the bier with white and bristly beard,Then of thy beauty do I question make,That thou among the wastes of time must go,Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsakeAnd die as fast as they see others grow;And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defenceSave breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
William Shakespeare Sonnets
When I do count the clock that tells the time,And see the brave day sunk in hideous night;When I behold the violet past prime,And sable curls all silver'd o'er with white;When lofty trees I see barren of leavesWhich erst from heat did canopy the herd,And summer's green all girded up in sheavesBorne on the bier with white and bristly beard,Then of thy beauty do I question make,That thou among the wastes of time must go,Since sweets and beauties do themselves forsakeAnd die as fast as they see others grow;And nothing 'gainst Time's scythe can make defenceSave breed, to brave him when he takes thee hence.
As an unperfect actor on the stage, Who with his fear is put besides his part,Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart; So I, for fear of trust, forget to say The perfect ceremony of love's rite, And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,O'ercharg'd with burden of mine own love's might. O, let my books be then the eloquenceAnd dumb presagers of my speaking breast;Who plead for love, and look for recompense,More than that tongue that more hath more express'd.O, learn to read what silent love hath writ:To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.
William Shakespeare Sonnets
As an unperfect actor on the stage, Who with his fear is put besides his part,Or some fierce thing replete with too much rage,Whose strength's abundance weakens his own heart; So I, for fear of trust, forget to say The perfect ceremony of love's rite, And in mine own love's strength seem to decay,O'ercharg'd with burden of mine own love's might. O, let my books be then the eloquenceAnd dumb presagers of my speaking breast;Who plead for love, and look for recompense,More than that tongue that more hath more express'd.O, learn to read what silent love hath writ:To hear with eyes belongs to love's fine wit.
The worst was this: my love was my decay.
William Shakespeare Sonnets
The worst was this: my love was my decay.
SONNET 57Being your slave, what should I do but tend Upon the hours and times of your desire? I have no precious time at all to spend, Nor services to do, till you require. Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hourWhilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you,Nor think the bitterness of absence sour When you have bid your servant once adieu; Nor dare I question with my jealous thought Where you may be, or your affairs suppose, But, like a sad slave, stay and think of noughtSave, where you are how happy you make those. So true a fool is love that in your will, Though you do any thing, he thinks no ill.
William Shakespeare Sonnets
SONNET 57Being your slave, what should I do but tend Upon the hours and times of your desire? I have no precious time at all to spend, Nor services to do, till you require. Nor dare I chide the world-without-end hourWhilst I, my sovereign, watch the clock for you,Nor think the bitterness of absence sour When you have bid your servant once adieu; Nor dare I question with my jealous thought Where you may be, or your affairs suppose, But, like a sad slave, stay and think of noughtSave, where you are how happy you make those. So true a fool is love that in your will, Though you do any thing, he thinks no ill.
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Other quotes in poetry

Each memorable verse of a true poet has two or three times the written content.
Alfred de Musset
Each memorable verse of a true poet has two or three times the written content.
There isn't enough paper in the world to write all the poems you inspire in me.
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There isn't enough paper in the world to write all the poems you inspire in me.
We are merely ghost flowers under the shade of the moon Many shades of secret sorrows blanket our eyes We spend our lives and our souls Searching - Longing - Waiting - For a little light to shine and heal our broken halos
Steven A. Williams Black
We are merely ghost flowers under the shade of the moon Many shades of secret sorrows blanket our eyes We spend our lives and our souls Searching - Longing - Waiting - For a little light to shine and heal our broken halos
She had just enough madness to make her interesting
Atticus Poetry Love Her Wild: Poems
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I couldn't tell fact from fiction,Or if the dream was trueMy only sure predictio
Maya Angelou (Author)
I couldn't tell fact from fiction,Or if the dream was trueMy only sure predictio
A certain person wondered whya big strong girl like mewouldn't keep a jobwhich paid a normal salary.I took my time to lead herand to read her every page.Even minimal peoplecan't survive on minimal wage.A certain person wondered whyI wait all week for you.I didn't have the wordsto describe just what you do.I said you had the motionof the ocean in your walk,and when you solve my riddlesyou don't even have to talk.
Maya Angelou I Shall Not Be Moved
A certain person wondered whya big strong girl like mewouldn't keep a jobwhich paid a normal salary.I took my time to lead herand to read her every page.Even minimal peoplecan't survive on minimal wage.A certain person wondered whyI wait all week for you.I didn't have the wordsto describe just what you do.I said you had the motionof the ocean in your walk,and when you solve my riddlesyou don't even have to talk.
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