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The course of true love never did run smooth

Cultural  
  1. True love always encounters difficulties. This proverb comes from the play A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The course of true love never did run smooth — plus now there’s werewolves! — in the new fantasy sequel “Zombies 2.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 7, 2020

The course of true love never did run smooth, especially through the twisting trenches of the Western Front.

From New York Times • Mar. 8, 2019

The sentiment is one that the best poet — a queer poet — of the English language spent a lifetime trying to articulate: The course of true love never did run smooth.

From Washington Post • Jul. 4, 2018

"The course of true love never did run smooth," a video caption reads.

From Scientific American • Sep. 14, 2017

Well, I was going to give Shakespeare’s words,— ‘Ah me! for aught that ever I could read, Could ever hear of tale or history, The course of true love never did run smooth.’

From Talkers With Illustrations by Bate, John

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