“Then let thy love be younger than thyself, Or thy affection cannot hold the bent,” is a quote from Shakespeare that carries a profound message about love and its sustainability. When he suggests that our ‘love’ should be ‘younger’ than ourselves, he’s not referring to age in the literal sense. Instead, he implies that our capacity for love should remain fresh, vibrant, and youthful – it should never grow old or weary. This youthful love is full of curiosity, openness, excitement and resilience.
The second part of the quote “Or thy affection cannot hold the bent” further elaborates on this idea by suggesting that if your affection becomes old or tired (loses its ‘bent’), it will not be able to withstand challenges. The term ‘bent’ here can refer to resilience or adaptability.Therefore if your love isn’t maintained with a youthful spirit – full of energy and adaptability – it might break under pressure.
Applying this idea in today’s world or personal growth could mean maintaining an attitude of freshness towards our relationships and life experiences. We frequently enough get jaded by routine or negative experiences which can make us cynical or closed off. But Shakespeare encourages us to keep our hearts young – open-minded and willing to experience each moment as new.
In personal development terms this could mean adopting a beginner’s mind – being willing to learn continually without letting past experiences cloud our judgement. This approach not only enriches personal relationships but also helps in professional settings where innovation and adaptability are highly valued.
Ultimately Shakespeare advises us against allowing time or familiarity breed complacency in matters of heart; instead we must strive towards keeping our affections resilient like a well-strung bow (‘the bent’), ready for all life throws at us with enthusiasm and grace typical of youthfulness.
