The quote reflects the complexities of love and the words used to express it. The speaker admits to proclaiming love without sincerity, treating it as a means to an end rather than a genuine emotion. By overusing such powerful words in past relationships, he has diminished their significance, leaving them feeling hollow when he genuinely tries to convey them. This situation highlights the dangers of viewing love as a tool rather than an authentic feeling.

As a result, by the time he encounters true love, he struggles to communicate his feelings due to previous misuses of the phrase. The shame attached to his past makes the words feel insincere, transforming what should be an expression of deep affection into a burden. Through this exploration, Atwood underscores the importance of honesty and authenticity in relationships, illustrating how easily love can be tainted by a lack of meaning behind the words we choose.