Love has been the muse of poets and storytellers for centuries, but few tales capture its intensity quite like Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In this tragic yet beautiful play, the characters speak in verses that overflow with passion, longing, and poetic imagery.
Their words have become some of the most quoted lines in literature, inspiring lovers and dreamers for generations.
In this post, we’ve gathered over 80 of the most powerful, romantic, and memorable Romeo and Juliet quotes about love, divided into thematic categories.
Whether you’re looking for poetic declarations, heartfelt confessions, or vivid metaphors, these timeless lines will speak to the heart.
Poetic Declarations of Love
- “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun ne’er saw her match since first the world begun.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 2)
- “Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, having some business, do entreat her eyes to twinkle in their spheres till they return.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “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.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “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 (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight, for I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 5)
- “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 5)
- “O, swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circled orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls, for stony limits cannot hold love out.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
Romantic Confessions
- “O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art as glorious to this night, being o’er my head, as is a winged messenger of heaven.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “I am no pilot. Yet, wert thou as far as that vast shore washed with the farthest sea, I would adventure for such merchandise.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, may prove a beauteous flower when we next meet.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books, but love from love, toward school with heavy looks.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “You kiss by the book.” – Juliet (Act 1, Scene 5)
- “Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 5)
- “If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.” – Mercutio (Act 2, Scene 1)
- “You are a lover. Borrow Cupid’s wings, and soar with them above a common bound.” – Mercutio (Act 1, Scene 4)
- “Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 1)
- “Being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers’ tears. What is it else? A madness most discreet, a choking gall, and a preserving sweet.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 1)
Vivid Metaphors and Imagery
- “Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 5)
- “Love is a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 4)
- “My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 5)
- “So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 5)
- “For stony limits cannot hold love out.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “And what love can do that dares love attempt; Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, may prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 5)
- “The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Under love’s heavy burden do I sink.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 4)
Playful Banter Between Lovers
- “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “I take thee at thy word. Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Sweet, so would I: Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day: It was the nightingale, and not the lark.” – Juliet (Act 3, Scene 5)
- “I have more care to stay than will to go; Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so.” – Romeo (Act 3, Scene 5)
- “My love as deep; the more I give to thee, the more I have.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “What satisfaction canst thou have tonight?” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Sweet, so would I: Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
Passionate Longing
- “Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Being vexed, a sea nourished with lovers’ tears.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 1)
- “Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “My bounty is as boundless as the sea.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Forswear it, sight, for I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 5)
- “The more I give to thee, the more I have.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
- “Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 5)
- “Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day.” – Juliet (Act 3, Scene 5)
- “Come, death, and welcome! Juliet wills it so.” – Romeo (Act 3, Scene 5)
- “Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has gifted the world with some of the most passionate, poetic, and unforgettable expressions of love ever written. These quotes capture every shade of romance—from playful teasing to deep devotion, from longing to lyrical beauty.
Which of these lines spoke most to your heart? Share your favorites in the comments below, or add your own beloved romantic quotes. If this collection moved you, pass it along to a friend or revisit it whenever you want to feel the magic of timeless love again.