10 Lines From Shakespeare's Sonnets That Offer Solid Life Lessons

Shakespeare is regarded as the ultimate master of words and there is no genre of literature he didn’t shine. We read his words on love, jealousy, vengeance, loss, peace, war and many more, but we hardly ponder for a while to take some lessons out of them. Here are 10 lines or statements from Shakespeare’s sonnets that seem to offer some profound lessons about life.

Sonnet 1: “Thyself thy foe, to thy sweet self too cruel”

This line from the first sonnet is relatable to many people because it defines one common practice. It simply teaches people to remain kind to themselves because self-sabotage and self-cruelty can be destructive.

Sonnet 12: “Nothing against Time’s Scythe can make defense- save bread, to brave him when he takes thee hence”.

This is one lesson on life that reminds us that time will never see who you were and you will not have the power to defend yourself when it comes, hence what you leave behind is what matters at the end of it all.

This is one lesson that reminds us how valuable time can be and why we should optimize it to our benefit.

Sonnet 18: “So long as men can breathe or eyes can see- so long live this and this gives life to thee”.

This sonnet offers meaning to life and how art, words and emotions have the power to immortalize life and love.

Sonnet 18: “And every fair from fair sometimes declines by chance of nature, changing course untrimmed”

One lesson we can learn from this sonnet is how exterior qualities, including beauty can become fleeting and wouldn’t stay the same forever.

Sonnet 22: “So long as youth and thou are of one date- But when in thee times furrow’s I behold”

This sonnet line gives one critical lessons about the old age, especially about losing your youth. It reminds us how aging can be obvious and cannot be changed but this should not change your views about yourself.

It also helps us understand that doing whatever we can to prolong our lifespan is very critical so that we don’t succumb quickly to the effect of aging.

Sonnet 30: “But if the while I think on thee, dear friend- All losses are restored and sorrows end”.

The two lines of this sonnet offers a great motivation and describes how having the right friends or company but with time they are lost and become distant. It helps us value meaningful relationships and ensure we care about the ones we love and cherish.

Sonnet 80: “The worst was this: My love was my decay”.

This is one line from sonnet 80 that describes what happens when love becomes unhealthy, it quickly leads to different kinds of ills and eventually self-destruction.

Sonnet 94: “For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds- Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.

This sonnet perfectly describes the effects and benefits of taking good actions and the bad ones. It also indicates how the best human qualities over time can become corrupted when good actions are not taking to sustain them. It makes it seem as making good actions repeatedly helps us sustain the benefits therein.

Sonnet 116: “Let me not to the marriage of two minds – admit impediments”

This is a line from sonnet 116 that tells us that true love will remain unwavering and must not be hindered by the little challenges or influences that happen in life.

Sonnet 116: Love is not love- which alters when it alteration finds”

This is another great lesson on love from Shakespeare and it describes how true love will remain the same regardless of circumstances or change.