“My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw.”

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and heightMy soul can reach, when feeling out of sightFor the ends of being and ideal grace.I love thee to the level of every day'sMost quiet need, by sun and candle-light.I love thee freely, as men strive for right.I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.I love thee with the passion put to useIn my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.I love thee with a love I seemed to loseWith my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,I shall but love thee better after death.”

“I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.”

“if I wait to beperfectbefore I love myselfI will always be unsatisfiedand ungrateful if I wait untilall the flaws, chips,and cracks disappearI will be the cupthat stands on the shelfand is never used”

“Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again.”

“Before, I loved thee as a brother, John,But now, I do respect thee as my soul.”