Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is one of the most famous love stories of all time. The play follows the tragic romance between Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, two young lovers whose families are bitter enemies. Despite the feud between their families, Romeo and Juliet secretly marry, but their romance has devastating consequences.
The play contains some of Shakespeare’s most beautiful and romantic language describing the passionate love between the young couple. But what is the most romantic line in this iconic love story? Here is an in-depth look at some of the most romantic quotes from Romeo and Juliet.
“O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 5)
This line is spoken by Romeo when he first catches sight of Juliet at the Capulet party. He is instantly struck by her beauty, saying it is so radiant that she “teaches the torches to burn bright.” The imagery of Juliet’s beauty eclipsing the light of the torches is a vivid and poetic way for Romeo to express her allure. This initial glimpse of Juliet completely captivates Romeo, sparking the beginning of their romance.
“But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
After meeting her at the party, Romeo is unable to stop thinking about Juliet. He sneaks into the Capulet orchard and catches sight of Juliet on her balcony, with moonlight surrounding her. Romeo uses celestial imagery to describe Juliet’s beauty, saying she is as splendid as the sun rising in the east. The sun was considered the most beautiful object in the sky, so comparing Juliet to the rising sun demonstrates Romeo’s complete enthrallment with her.
“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)
While on the balcony, Juliet professes her love for Romeo, saying her love for him is as endless as the sea. Her love will remain no matter how much of it she gives to Romeo. The imagery of Juliet’s infinitely abundant love establishes the depth and purity of her feelings for Romeo early in their romance. Even though they hardly know one another at this point, Juliet is utterly certain her love for Romeo is indestructible.
“Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books, But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
In this clever line, Romeo compares his and Juliet’s eagerness to be with one another to schoolboys rushing out of school. It is one of Shakespeare’s most inventive metaphors, contrasting the joy of running to love against the drudgery of dragging oneself to school. Romeo expresses that their newfound love pulls them toward one another, just as schoolboys are drawn to freedom at the end of class. This line playfully conveys the magnetic attraction between the young lovers.
“Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say good night till it be morrow.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
At the end of the balcony scene, Romeo and Juliet must part for the night. Juliet delivers the famous line longing for morning to come so they can be reunited. The oxymoron “parting is such sweet sorrow” beautifully encapsulates the heartache of separating mixed with the anticipation of seeing her love again. Juliet’s line expresses the visceral pain of being apart from Romeo, even for a brief time. It demonstrates the intensifies of her newfound feelings for him.
“But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun…” – Romeo (Act 2, Scene 2)
This poetic line is spoken by Romeo when he first catches sight of Juliet on her balcony, with moonlight surrounding her. He uses celestial imagery to describe her beauty, comparing her to the rising sun in the early dawn. This metaphor demonstrates Romeo’s awe at Juliet’s splendor, establishing her as the light of his world from their very first encounter.
“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)
As Romeo watches Juliet on her balcony, he longs to be close to her. He wishes he could be the glove upon her hand, just to touch her cheek. Romeo’s desire is literally to feel the warmth of Juliet’s face upon her palm. His wish reflects the sensuality of young love and the longing for physical closeness. It is one of Shakespeare’s most passionate expressions of romantic yearning.
“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers’ eyes; Being vexed, a sea nourished with tears.” – Romeo (Act 1, Scene 1)
Romeo uses vivid imagery to describe love’s multifaceted nature. He sees love as intangible as smoke, yet igniting passion and desire like a sparkling fire. When love brings anguish, it flows as abundantly as the sea. Romeo’s reflections establish one of the play’s central themes – love’s ability to transcend form and encompass contradictions. This poetic line expresses love’s joy, passion, and pain altogether.
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
In this famous line, Juliet argues that Romeo’s name does not matter to her. If he were named anything else, she would love him just the same. For Juliet, it is her lover himself, not his name, that holds sweetness. Juliet sees past superficial labels to recognize inner beauty and deeper meaning. Her vision of love transcends family names and societal expectations.
“O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?” – Juliet (Act 2, Scene 2)
In Juliet’s most well-known soliloquy, she laments why Romeo must be a Montague, her family’s enemy. If he shed his name, their love would face no obstacles. Juliet’s refrain reveals that she does not care about feuding households; her only frustration is Romeo’s name preventing their unity. Her repetition of “Romeo” expresses her longing and romantic distress at their divide.
“For stony limits cannot hold love out, And what love can do that dares love attempt.” – Friar Lawrence (Act 2, Scene 6)
The wise Friar Lawrence believes Romeo and Juliet’s love may be able to reconcile their feuding families. He argues that strong walls cannot keep love contained – it will always find a way. The Friar sees the potential of the young couple’s devotion to make a difference in Verona. His words establish love as a force of its own beyond human control.
“O, I am fortune’s fool!” – Romeo (Act 3, Scene 1)
After Romeo slays Tybalt for killing Mercutio and is banished from Verona, he cries out that he is at the mercy of fate’s cruelty. Romeo feels devastated that his marriage to Juliet has been ripped apart by circumstances out of his control. His lament reveals the anguish of their romance seeming doomed by powers larger than themselves.
“For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.” – Prince Escalus (Act 5, Scene 3)
At the play’s end, the Prince sadly concludes that Romeo and Juliet’s love faced more distress than any other. Their secret romance is wrecked by an ancient feud, timing, and miscommunication. The Prince’s final summation argues that no other love story in history met with more pitiable circumstances than that of the star-crossed lovers.
Conclusion
Romeo and Juliet contains exquisite verse expressing romantic love in all its complexities: from initial attraction, to profound affection, to pleasures and pains, and ultimately to tragedy. There are so many breathtaking lines conveying the joy, sensuality, longing, and despair of love. While opinions may differ on which quote qualifies as the most romantic, Romeo and Juliet remains one of literature’s most emotive and nuanced depictions of romantic devotion.
