True love, etc.

Posted by ESC on October 25, 2000

In Reply to: Definitions posted by Adeline on October 24, 2000

: Hi there,

: I would like to know the meaning of two phrases which are:

: ~"The course of true love never did run smooth"

: ~"Nothing comes for nothing. You have to pay in some form or another. People have to make sacrifices"

: Aa early reply will much be appreciated.

: Thank you,

: Adeline

THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE NEVER DID RUN SMOOTH - "Problems may crop up even in the most passionate of courtships and the best marriages. The proverb is found in Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.' First attested in the United States in 'Swallow Barn' . The proverb is found in varying forms: The path of true love never runs smooth, True love never runs smooth." From Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996).

YOU DON'T GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING - "Nothing will come to you without effort on your part. The proverb has been traced back to 'Sybil' by Benjamin Disraeli (1804-81), and is first attested in the United States in 'Struggles and Triumphs' by Phineas Taylor Barnum (1810-91) 'When people expect to get 'something for nothing,' wrote P.T. Barnum, 'they are sure to be cheated.'." From Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings by Gregory Y. Titelman (Random House, New York, 1996). The way I've heard this expressed is that every pleasure has a price that must be paid. You can pay up front, for example, working hard to earn a pleasure. Or you can pay after, usually through some unpleasant consequence.